Bitcoin Forum

Could Al-Qaeda use Bitcoin ?
Is it possible that they are already using it ?

Has anyone thought about the possibility of them using the coinbase to send messages to, or to activate Sleeper Cells in the US and abroad ?
It's quite possible that there just might be someone in a cave somewhere in the Middle East, currently able to stay in contact with operatives thanks to Bitcoin.

Should there be an Anti-Terrorist Bitcoin Organization who monitors blocks and transactions for this very reason ?

Bitcoin is  a Peace Organization in my view. Actively promoting cooperation and peace wherever it spreads.

- Or being used to detonate explosives in Little Timmy's bedroom upon 1BoMb sending a transaction with a .911BTC fee. Hard to say.

You are correct..... Peace.

Here's more 'peace' for you to think about:
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

I think that Satoshi was an Al-Qaeda operative who coded Bitcoin to first and foremost be a secure communication's tool, by exploiting the World's greed using an 'Economic' front end of sorts..... such as a currency ? or more specifically, a CRYPTO currency, strong emphasis on crypto (for communications purposes)....

Bitcoin itself is meant to be an economic 'revolution' of sorts, that attempts to circumvent the traditional Bank's stranglehold on society...and is essentially an attack on Government-led Capitalism in itself, albeit, a small attack at this point.

It's not unreasonable to consider (as was kinda mentioned above) that once mobile devices are more 'Bitcoin Friendly', that a specific transaction amount could not be used to trigger an event on the receiving end.

TRUST NO ONE !

Just like My Little Pony. Come to think of it, couldn't Al-Qaeda use something as innocent as a child's cartoon to send messages via same's message boards, if they aren't already?

~Bruno~

http://blog.joehuffman.org/content/binary/mylittleponycarbine.jpg

Where to begin *sigh  - by the way your at post 999 flip that around and you get 666 fitting lol

btw: so anytime anyone questions islam and the falsehood it is they should be branded as islamaphobic - got it!

Bitcoin is a communication tool.  It communicates economic preferences.


Yep.

Look, we all know the winter has been a long one up in Canada this year, but really?  Al Qaeda?

But I heard they like goats...

It's possible, but they most probably also use Visa/Mastercard, Paypal, Dwolla, LibertyReserve, and cash.

The solution isn't destroying Bitcoin, nor harassing the people who use it. The solution is religious profiling, all Al-Qaeda operatives are Muslims. Al-Qaeda isn't the first organization of this nature in the Islamic world, there are many precedents, I think the Hassassins (cca. 1092 CE) were the first.

I'm not saying all Muslims are bad, I think the majority of Muslims are good generous people with good intentions, and this includes senbonzakura. But they refuse to acknowledge they have a problem in their midst (in fact many problems, like the treatment of women, human rights, and censorship in Islamic countries. The fact that these problems persist after the Arab Spring, shows this is a problem inherent to Islam and not local regimes). And for this non-Muslims have their privacy invaded, and are harassed at airports.

Islam is a religion composed of many races/ethnicity, the term racist doesn't apply here. Not all "islamophobes" hate Arabs.

Or they are honest researchers.

I'll give you this one, but it also applies to Muslims. Interpretations about Dajjal comes to mind.

Same about the people who convert revert to Islam. And who believe the whitewashed history.

You know what annoys me? Muslims decry western imperialism and the crusades (which where an answer to Muslim conquests), but laud the Caliphate, and the Ottoman Empire. They pride themselves for their tolerance towards Christians and Jews, but always fail to mention that it was not extended to pagans/heathens. For the choice was convert, death, or slavery. Or how they converted Persia (Iran) by force, because they where "worshiping fire". Or how many girls were kidnapped for the harems or Sultans, and viziers. They also fail to mention that slave trade continued long after it was banned in other places.

As far as inventions go...Algebra? A closer look reveals that it has older roots than Islamic scholars. Arabic numerals, has anyone checked Indian numerals?

Dishonesty or Double-think?

Don't make such statements without evidence. Satoshi is most likely a Japanese hacker, considering how concerned the Japanese are about economy, and how i-WAT has its origins in Japan, it fits the pattern. If not, then he is a British or American hacker and anime fan.

Get the fuck out of my thread, hate-mongers and idealists alike.

This is about Al-Qaeda and NOT another Soap-Box for either side to wage their Pro or Anti Islamic Wars.

Fuck me....

The ONLY reason I posted that link that I did, was as an example (hind-sight being 20/20....it turned out to be a BAD example of terrorism stats).

WAGE YOUR HOLLY WARS ELSEWHERE.

For anyone too fucking stupid to get 'THE JOKE' ....wrap your mind around this:

Remember when Luke Jr inserted prayers into the blockchain ? I MADE A JOKING REFERENCE TO IT BEING USED TO MESSAGE TERRORISTS.

I am not a fucking racist and I REFUSE to be lumped into that barrel of fucking Monkeys.

Peace as in the level 600 of the scale of consciousness put forth by David Hawkins.
"[...]That which is is witnessing and that which is witnessed take on the same identity; the observer dissolves into landscape and becomes equally the observed. Everything is connected to everything else by a Presence whose power is infinite, exquisitely gentle, yet rock solid. Great works of art, music and architecture that calibrate between 600 and 700 can transport us temporarily to higher levels of consciousness and are universally recognized as inspirational and timeless"
Part of this resonates with Bitcoin, in my own humble view and opinion.

Your URL is most likely at the level of hatred and fear, calibrating at the level of 100 - 150. 500 zeros less than Peace. It is a common place to be at for alot of people, but an extremely weak place, one that leads to struggle and exhaustion.

"TheReligionofPeace.com is a pluralistic, non-partisan...." Come on... Do you actually espouse such beliefs or is that google who served you something to retort how dare I claim that Bitcoin helps spread peace?

FTFY.

Those crazy Canadians....

;)

Islamaphobia is the new anti-Semitism in the west.  Fascist and nationalist party's in the west used to attack Jews now they attack Muslims.

basically this ^^

.

Yeah but why mention Al-Qaeda which may not actually exist as an organisation and just be an ideology.  There are plenty of other terrorist or criminal organisations to pick on.

There very well may be, but I am not aware of any others that my 'joke' could have applied to....being a 'Westerner' and having the whole idea of 'Sleeper Cells' rammed down our throats by the Warmongering US media.

If there are other 'Terrorist' organizations that currently lay dormant in North America with intent to rise up and strike against Western oppression/culture/gluttony/influence etc, that my 'joke' could have applied to while maintaining the same 'Pop Culture' interest.... I apologize for leaving you out. It was not my intent to forget anyone ;)

senbonzakura, that guy was missing a tag ....... "Random Screening" ;)

In London they shot dead a Brazilian guy just because he was brown and acting suspicious the suicide-bomber threat was that high.

Wait, wait hold on.

This is a totally legitimate question and OP is not a racist for asking it.

Everyone else who's commenting on Muslim issues ect.. is completely off topic.

To get back on topic:

I've always though about this, and its terrifying because essentially yes, I think terrorists can use Bitcoin (In small amounts) to send money across the world

*gasp* And so can my grandmother! Shit's about to get real, folks.

Yes yes, but thats not the point.

You have to understand, we're constantly fighting the press war and we need to come off as addressing issues like these.

Banks have standards and things to prevent their facilities to be used against money laundering and terrorism

I think any Bitcoin Business / Exchange where one can trade over a certain limit for Bitcoin should have some sort of compliance and procedures in place.

Doesent have to be as strict or pain in the ass as the banking institutions, but we still need to come off as we are trying

Sorry but won't work once bitcoin gets on the US governments radar they will try and shut it down plus it will be hounded by nearly all the press.  Their more bothered about loosing tax and revenue then drugs or terrorism without a doubt.

there isn't such thing as "money laundering" or "terrorism" in a real free market governed world. You base your assumptions on shaky grounds after being "washed" for your whole life. "Money laundering" is the term they like to use for the exchange of value without without proper screening or reporting. "Terrorism" defines the re-action with force to previous interference into a country or organization's internal affairs by force, extinct in a worldwide bitcoin economy.

Present status quo and bitcoin are incompatible by design so if you stand up for bitcoin wait for the other extreme to use any means available against it. It will not matter if you comply with their laws as you already do.

So you were, what, like 10 years old when 9/11 happened?

Even if you believe the official conspiracy theory of 9/11, it probably cost less than $5000 per person.  And the hijackers who were "known suspected terrorists" were being monitored by the CIA as they entered the country anyways (yet this fact was conveniently hid from the rest of the US government).  And they were using credit cards in their own names, so all of their transactions were tracked and monitored.  They weren't even using cash.

So, really, I for one am sick of hearing about this "terrorism and money laundering" bullshit.  Because that's 100% exactly what it is.  What is your suggestion, exactly?  You want to prevent people from transferring $5000 at a time?  That will create far more terrorists than it will hinder.  You want to monitor all transactions and turn that info over to the government?  Hah, just see how many terrorist attacks that prevents.

Fuck, dude.  Either wake up and get a clue, join the rest of the adults here in reality.  Or stop trying to bullshit us, if that's what you're doing.  Don't try to tell us you're really afraid of "terrorists"...

That's not my point.

If you want Bitcoin to exist in this 'present status quo', we must be compliant with their laws as we actively try to change them.

This is not just my view, but then view of many including assemblymen we're actively working with to repeal state regulations.


No, and thats an insulting thing to say. I was born and raised mere blocks from the world trade center and lost friends


Look, you and I can debate wether or not these regulations and compliance laws actually mean anything or prevent anything.

At the end of the day, your not the one on the front lines doing the fighting.

It's not "Islamaphobia"... it's just the same old atheist idiots who got bored of Christianity and have now found a new flavor of the month.  So don't feel singled out.  It was bound to happen sooner or later.

Al Qaeda don't need bitcoin they already have a hawalla system which works much better for them, or they can bribe any bank employee in egypt or pakistan to transfer money for them. Judging by their recently exposed COMSEC, I doubt any of them would bother to use it since they don't even pgp encrypt their emails to each other.

A better question would be could Anders Breivik had used bitcoins to buy anonymous weapons and explosives? Sure he could have, but again didn't need to because there were other methods at his disposal like his phony farm nobody checked he could use to import watched chemicals.

Could Mossad operatives use bitcoin to transfer money to agents doing assasinations? Sure they could, but why bother when they have unlimited fake IDs they can make to open real companies and bank accounts.

Could drug cartels use bitcoins to launder billions? Sure, but highly unlikely. Why bother when they have a network of sucessfull laundering already set up that seems to work for them. There also probably isn't enough bitcoins in the world to satisfy one day's worth of drug trafficking profits laundering for even the smallest mexican cartel.

Can human trafficking mafia in the Ukraine sell illegal pornography using bitcoins? Sure they could. Do they? No they buy stolen bank accounts and prepaid cards and whatever else mafia usually does.

Can a terrorist in the USA buy an anonymous rifle with bitcoins and go on a rampage? Sure but why would they when you can easily pick up the Phoenix newspapers or search craigslist for legal mail order weapons that don't require ID anyways. Or go to a gun flea market with phony papers and buy anything you want. Did cho need bitcoins to shoot up Vtech? nope.

Criminals are criminals and have the entire system to exploit to their advantage. Bitcoin for them isn't needed. Last time I checked there were still a lot of open computer fraud forums operating in CIS and Russia that aren't using bitcoins.

+1
Nailed it, #3 and #4 particularly. What you describe is a generic template, you could substitute many degenerate ideologies for Islamophobia. Pull out #1 and substitute "bitcoinism" for "Islamophobia", works like a charm.

It's cool, no one has noticed all the steganographic content in the blockchain except the US NSA. So far so good.

Am I the only person who understands the true joke intention of the post?
Anyway there is no real case here, the problem is not with the currency but the group, they will always be a way of transferring money around the globe under the radar its like trying to combat piracy by blocking sites like piratebay... it doesn't work

You sound like the kind of person who is willing to give up his freedoms for the fight against "terrorism", the kind of person who wouldn't mind being anally probed at checkpoints.

Your right, it does sound like that.

However, in this case Im the one going to jail if I dont allow the probing.

Amen, so sick of seeing Stardusts patronizing posts about her persecuting Islam being shoehorned into every discussion possible.
Dont like it - great, get of your fucking laptop and go do something to help these oppressed women in Islam, wait what - your a spoiled western princess who wouldnt dream of stepping outside of her own safety zone to help others.......... shocking !!!.


Now in answer to op - they would be stupid not to, Its an excellent system for instant "near anonymous" global money transfer, on top of which your accounts cannot be frozen.
IMHO its every crime syndicates and money launderers wet dream.

We will soon know I guess if we see Al-Qaeda on Silk Road selling off their opium stock ;)

edit: as other members pointed out its quite likely bitcoin does not hold enough value to suite most large organizations for money laundering.

It could be on the rise in those circles, Id imagine it would be excellent for paying/sending money to an operative on a field mission who is in a city (lots of potential buyers).
Imagine Walt from breaking bad flashing a QR code to a bulk meth distributer, Jesse goes "yo' what are you waiting for man, bitcoin him biatch !".

That's a good idea, they would no longer have to give the CIA a cut for distribution.  ;D

Fine, I'll shut up about Islam. I'm not western, and what you say it's easier said than done. But I'll shut up.

Sleeper cells don't exist.
 
They get over here, realize how cool it is, you can go to strippers, watch awesome movies, go to Disney Land, drink beer w/out getting your hand cut off... and realize "No, I don't want to blow this place up, this is awesome!"  :)

They could be using it for money transfers because it helps them transfer money without being detected.

Only if you are extremely careful. It's difficult to be completely anonymous with bitcoin.

+1

This is very true.

I'm new to bitcoins and just learning.  But I've dealt with security in the US financial verticle for a while.  Judging by a quick look around your site.  I'm not totally sure if or how you would be regulated.  It doesn't look like you deal with actual cash. Unless you physically accept cash (as in dollars/checks) or disperse cash to individuals (I didn't see this, but I could have missed it), then your obligations are likely defined by your interface institutions.

What you should to do is write up a risk mitigation plan (based on your interfaces) that you can present in the event that your services are questions by any authorities. Then implement it.  That will give you standing for having considered the issue and addressed it within the current regulatory requirements. It will also save a lot of fumbling if you're drawn into any investigation or some sort of an audit.

As a minimum, you need a data destruction policy (that would be part of your risk mitigation plan) that is followed religiously - even if you do not have the entire risk mitigation plan.  I say this because IF an investigation is started the first thing you will have to justify is any deleted data.  Without a written plan (with evidence of enforcement), they can try to claim that you deleted 'evidence' or force you into expensive data mining to answer obtuse questions.

The easiest way to accomplish this would be to limit transfers above the cut-off limit (e.g. USD$10k w/the same day) to only those institutions that are regulated.  This doesn't prevent them from making multiple transfers, but even US banks don't document multiple small transfers.

You are living in a fantasy world. What on earth would al-Qaeda want to use BitCoin for when they could use cash? Given the very few ways to cash in or out large sums and the very many ways to move large amounts of cash around any terrorist use of BitCoin would be just plain silly. It's possible to send messages from anywhere to anywhere without the massive complexity of hiding them in BitCoin's blockchain.

Stop spreading American media style fear because it doesn't belong here. Every time you get molested at an airport, or get your papers checked by some psycho who really just wants an excuse to give you a really bad day remember your irrational fear of Al-Qaeda caused you to live in permanent fear of your own government. The terrorists won and they are called the TSA.

Truth, he speaks it.