The only group that surpasses terrorists in amateur video uploads is probably Bieber lip-syncers. But getting to these videos of vague threats, IED training and attack footage can be tough. So why not collect them all and sell ’em?
FastCompany’s Neal Ungerleider describes IntelCenter, an enormous trove of such videos, as “the Netflix of Terrorism”. And he’s spot on — the service not only provides a vast collection of somewhat hilariously titled DVDs (“AL-QAEDA VIDEOS VOL. 60 Ayman al-Zawahiri: Tremendous Lessons & Events in the Year” “AL-QAEDA VIDEOS VOL. 47 Abu Yahya al-Libi: Jihadi Poems”), but they stream too. Videos of bombings and rants are available in your browser, iPhone or iPad — but it comes at quite a price. A subscription for a 6-10 person group runs $US65,000 a year — those outside the government, academia or media need not apply.
It might seem unfair, arrogant, even to charge figures like this — large military packages cost $US750,000 — and the rest of the internet locked out of what are mostly freely released videos on Jihadist message boards. But there’s something to be said for keeping this stuff under the rug. Terrorists produce these videos because they want them to be seen and spread as widely as possible. They’re wonderful for recruitment and scaring the shit out of those who can’t be recruited. And if IntelCenter were to essentially act as a giant YouTube of terror propaganda, we’d be doing their job for bad guys. That said, I would kind of like to watch that Jihadi poetry slam. [IntelCenter via FastCompany]