Bitcoin Forum

Hello,

Terrorism is the topic we all tip-toe around when it comes to crypto-currencies. I think it's time we discuss and consider it in order to assess the threat crypto-currency poses to society as a whole by providing a method of funding for groups focused on destruction either as a goal or as a mean of gaining power and wealth.

Firstly, we should define terrorist to keep the topic focused.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. Terror is further defined as: a state of intense fear.

Therefore, under this definition, the following categories emerge:
1. Destruction and mass destruction of property. Example: Al Qaeda
2. Kidnappers
3. Pirates. Example: Somalia
4. Attacks with weapons. Example: Shooting into a crowd.
5. Domestic governments terrorizing civilian population. Example: North Korea, Nazi Germany
6. Other threats: bioterrorism, cyberterrorism(attacking civilians for personal gain), narcoterrorism(terrorizing  of government officials and/or people to enable drug trafficking).

There are most likely other categories that I could not recall. Feel free to discuss it as well.

Some questions to consider:
Do you think the anonymity provided by the crypto-currency network swill make it easier for these groups to receive funding?
Do you think the positives outweigh the threats?
Is there something that can be done to thwart this threat?
Is decentralization a weakness because there is no regulation to protect from such threats?

I'm sure you can think on your own, just giving you a head start :).

You forgot one important category of terrorism, and it's the one most people are going to experience:

Domestic government using coercion or intimidation against them.

Cryptocurrencies will make it more difficult for those groups to receive funding, and that's a good thing.

Please explain how it would make it harder now? They can receive from anyone anywhere completely anonymously.

I included domestic governments for completeness.

Government terrorists are funded by taxes, confiscation, and inflation.  You can't tax, confiscate, or inflate anonymous transactions of anonymous money.

This.

So that maybe helps in one area. But what about organizations like Al Qaeda who rely on donors and fund raising as well as all the other types of threats mentioned?

Ask yourself why they are getting the funding. Why do people voluntarily support groups like Al Qaeda and the IRA?

(Hint: One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.)

They are free market organizations providing services that people want? Namely fighting against even bigger terrorist groups, the governments?

Terrorism has nothing to do with logic. It's all about emotions.
Everywhere you have lots of unemployed young men you will have terrorism.
You can't really stop them by cutting the money flow.

Emotions like anger, fear, and vengeance because your country is occupied by foreign invaders and your family was killed by a drone missile?

This


And this.


And this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-xmKpFZcNA