The British government has begun exporting the propaganda elements of its controversial Prevent counter-radicalisation to countries across the globe. Documents seen by Middle East Eye show that methods of covertly communicating government messages have been taken up by at least 11 countries, including Iraq, Tunisia, Kosovo and Kenya. A number of European countries, including France, Belgium, Spain and Estonia have also started running propaganda operations based upon the Prevent model, according to the documents. Source: UK counter-extremism propaganda unit extending reach around the globe | Middle East Eye

A social media network for young people, launched around the term “woke”, is actually a covert British government counterterrorism programme, security officials have admitted. A Facebook page and Instagram feed with the name This Is Woke describes itself as the work of a “media/news company” that is engaging “in critical discussions around Muslim identity, tradition and reform”. In fact, it was created by a media company on behalf of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) at the UK Home Office. But the OSCT is refusing to disclose information about the network and will not say why it was created, saying that to do so would “prejudice the national security of the UK”. Source: ‘This Is Woke’: The media outfit that’s actually a UK counter-terror programme | Middle East Eye

Fifteen potential cases of torture or rendition involving British intelligence at the height of the “war on terror” were examined last year in a secret Whitehall review, whose existence was revealed in court proceedings on Tuesday. None were deemed by officials to have involved British spies being party to human rights abuses – a decision that is being challenged by two MPs and the human rights charity Reprieve as part of a high court judicial review. Lawyers acting for the former Conservative minister David Davis and Labour’s Dan Jarvis want to overturn a decision by Theresa May to ditch a promise to hold a judge-led inquiry into the involvement of British intelligence in torture and rendition following 9/11. Source: Whitehall held secret review into 15 possible cases of torture or rendition | Rendition | The Guardian

IBM is pulling out of the facial recognition market and is calling for “a national dialogue” on the technology’s use in law enforcement.   The abrupt about-face comes as technology companies are facing increased scrutiny over their contracts with police amid violent crackdowns on peaceful protest across America. In a public letter to Congress, IBM chief executive, Arvind Krishna, explained the company’s decision to back out of the business, and declared an intention “to work with Congress in pursuit of justice and racial equity, focused initially in three key policy areas: police reform, responsible use of technology, and broadening skills and educational opportunities.”   Source: IBM quits facial-recognition market over police racial-profiling concerns | IBM | The Guardian

Review announced in January 2019 to look at counter-terrorism scheme is still without a chair   The government has been accused of “incompetence and complacency” in its handling of an independent review of Prevent, the programme that aims to stop people from becoming terrorists, amid further delays to its completion. The review was first announced in January 2019 and it has been beset by delays. Its first chair, Lord Carlile, was forced to step down in December 2019 and it took four months for the Home Office to launch a recruitment campaign for his replacement. Since then, the department has extended the window for applications from 1 June to 22 June with the final interviews not taking place until the end of July. A counter-terrorism and sentencing bill that will have its second reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday seeks to remove a statutory deadline for ministers to respond to the review’s

More evidence is emerging of the British government developing motivational online media platforms targeted at young women as part of a covert counter-terrorism campaign. Security officials have acknowledged that a Facebook page and Instagram account entitled Stoosh were created as part of the UK’s controversial Prevent counter-radicalisation programme. The admission comes nine months after the same officials confirmed that a similar online platform entitled This Is Woke had been created as part of the programme. Source: UK counter-terror programme targeted BAME women using Instagram influencers | Middle East Eye

CAGE’S Anas Mustapha says the appointment of a senior police officer to a senior position at the Charity Commission should set alarm bells ringing for Muslim charities. The appointment of Nick Baker, the Deputy Chief Constable at Staffordshire Police Force, as the Chief Operating Officer of the Charity Commission is yet more evidence of the securitisation and politicisation […] Source: Now an ex-cop is managing the Charity Commission, its purpose needs to be checked – 5Pillars