Roblox Player Detained In Singapore For Being “Propagandist” In ISIS Server
Please be aware that the following piece discusses terrorism and violence as well as mentions of online radicalization
A 16-year-old boy has been detained in Singapore for being a “chief propagandist”. This label is because of his role in an ISIS-themed server on the popular game platform Roblox.
The boy, who has his identity protected due to him being a minor, “was issued with a restriction order in January, limiting his movements and preventing him from issuing public statements” according to a report from SCMP. The investigation found he had been involved with “multiple Islamic State-themed servers on Roblox” which violates new terror laws in Singapore.
The boy was first reported in 2020 to the Internal Security Department of Singapore or the ISD, at this time the boy was 14 and the reports stated he was spending large amounts of time on ISIS-themed servers within Roblox.
The report stated, “He used the platform to replicate Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) conflict zones, such as Syria and Marawi city in the southern Philippines, and regarded himself as an Isis member and took the baiah (allegiance) to an in-game “Isis leader”. He played out his fantasies on the game – where he would shoot and kill enemies and undertake roles as the “spokesperson” and “chief propagandist” for his virtual Isis faction, the ISD said in its statement.”
Another report from CNA details that the young boy also found radicalizing content on YouTube, which he channeled back into his Roblox server. The report stated that as the “propagandist”, he spoke with people who joined the server in attempts to radicalize others. These methods also took place outside the game where the teen made pro-ISIS propaganda using footage taken from Roblox set to ISIS-produced anthems.
So far three videos were found, with the posts coming from late 2021 to early 2022. Authorities said that the teen was using the server as a way to not only fulfil his fantasies but also formulate how to begin an Islamist caliphate.
The teen was also found to have a connection to 18-year-old Muhammad Irfan Danyal Mohamad Nor, who had been arrested previously for attempting to commit a terrorist attack on Singapore’s Coney Island. Ifran believed that this attack would begin a caliphate and nudge Singapore closer to being a radical Islamist state. He had contact with the 16-year-old sometime prior to his arrest last year, where both expressed a desire for violence in their conversations.
ISD is sending a warning to the rest of the country that radicalization among youth is a real and present danger that should be taken seriously. Singapore isn’t the only country where online radicalization is a problem, however. In the US, UK, and Canada there has been growing concern around white nationalist, Neo-Nazi, and other forms of extremist rhetoric seeping into online gaming spaces.
Roblox has been a popular ground for these extremists to recruit youth as the platform has relatively loose moderation. Any players or parents aware of such content should report it immediately. Parents should also be especially careful as most content on Roblox can seem innocent, but there is always a chance of harmful content. Supervision and designated screen time can reduce the likelihood of these occurrences.
Source: msn
