Youth Indoctrination
Summary
A 14-year-old Singaporean boy was issued a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Restriction Orders restrict travel, employment, and public statements without approval. Doing so prevents the individual from propagating radical information, thwarting any attempt at further indoctrination. The boy aspired to travel overseas to participate in armed violence and die a martyr. His indoctrination started when he came across a video of ISIS fighters battling American soldiers in Iraq. In the video, ISIS was deemed as defenders of the public, while the Americans were the oppressors who brought forth strife and discord. To show his allegiance, the boy created pro-ISIS videos using footage from his online gameplay on Roblox and Gorebox. He simulated ISIS executions, shooting or beheading non-believers within his virtually constructed world. This is not an isolated event. This is the 3rd case of terrorism related activism the Internal Security Department had to deal with in the past two years.
Application
Such a case study illustrates the dangers of a lawless virtual frontier. That children and teenagers are susceptible to terrorist propaganda proves the need for government regulation and oversight. And unless children possess the powers of discretion to guard themselves against radicalism, it is clear that adults should intervene.