A new digital terror story broke this week, as German investigators cracked open an al Qaeda file.
The archive itself is a kind of fearsome media trifecta: hidden in suspect's underwear, posing as a porn file ("Kick Ass"; presumably not Kick-Ass), and outlining various terror attacks. If only the porn were kiddie porn, and if copyright violation was involved, it could be the ultimate fearsome digital media object.
Several points to note, from a fearsome media perspective:
- Good communications was crucial to successful attacks. This could feed into more antiterror, antiinternet policies.
- The US isn't central to this story. It's really about Europe.
- The story doesn't mention steganography; too technical, or was another method involved?
- As a presentation, the CNN story takes care to portray many historical attacks: Mumbai, London, etc.
- " " ", CNN also emphasizes that the threat, while paused, is still active.
(thanks to Todd Bryant)
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