ASU Discussed Information Security Issues and Dissemination of Destructive Information on the Internet

Astrakhan State University hosted a round table discussion «Extremism and Social Media». The event involved members of the ASU volunteering group «Cyber Patrol», the university administration, representatives of the regional authorities and law enforcement agencies, as well as Hieromonk Irenarch, a representative of the Orthodox Monastery of John the Baptist, and Mufti Rauf-Hazrat, the President of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in the Astrakhan region.

The discussion aimed at increasing efficiency of tolerance cultivation, resistance to extremism and prevention of terrorism among students through the explanation of urgent issues of information security and their connection with the Russian Federation national security.

ASU students are active «fighters» of the information battlefront: for two years, the university has been running the «Cyber Patrol», a volunteering group for resistance to destructive information dissemination on the Internet and struggle against youth extremism. Every three months, the group members draw up reports on encountered resources containing extremist information and inciting national, racial or religious discord, as well as resources containing materials which are on the list of the publications banned in Russia.

A representative of the Centre for Combating Extremism of the Astrakhan region reminded the participants of the articles of the Federal Law Against Extremism. The expert called the students for being more confident and contacting law enforcement agencies so that they can take immediate and efficient operational and preventative measures.