Could Al-Qaeda use Bitcoin ?

[matthewh3]

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

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

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 ?

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

[rjk]

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.

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

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

[matthewh3]

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.

 

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.

[paraipan]

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

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.

[benjamindees]

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

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"...

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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"...

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.

[Tomatocage]

http://www.loonwatch.com/2011/03/warrior-prophet-moses-or-muhammad/

http://whatiftheyweremuslim.com/category/christian/

http://spencerwatch.com

http://www.loonwatch.com/2012/04/a-journey-out-of-islamophobic-darkness

The Islamophobia propaganda machine has its roots in years of concerted online, media and marketing campaigns. This well oiled machine of hate has attracted many followers, and they can be broken up into several groups (there may be considerable overlap):

1.) Those who were ripe for the picking. These individuals already had a hate for Islam and Muslims or Arabs, they were already racist in one way or another, and easily attached themselves to Islamophobia.

2.) Opportunists. These individuals are always looking for a way to make a buck, to line their pockets. Real, honest work doesn’t suit their tastes and so they’ve devoted themselves to that centuries old money-maker, hate.

3.) True believers. They may come from various ends of the ideological spectrum, most of them are very afraid, fear courses through their every waking moment, they are made even more afraid by modern interpretations of say Biblical prophecies, or fears about the existential threat of the end of Western society.

4.) The gullible or the naive. These individuals read and believe the Islamophobic propaganda because they perceive the arguments as objective, factual, honest, and fitting with their worldview, or answering their confusion and incomprehension of world events or history.

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.

[zer0]

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.

[faidsaid]

http://www.loonwatch.com/2011/03/warrior-prophet-moses-or-muhammad/

http://whatiftheyweremuslim.com/category/christian/

http://spencerwatch.com

http://www.loonwatch.com/2012/04/a-journey-out-of-islamophobic-darkness

The Islamophobia propaganda machine has its roots in years of concerted online, media and marketing campaigns. This well oiled machine of hate has attracted many followers, and they can be broken up into several groups (there may be considerable overlap):

1.) Those who were ripe for the picking. These individuals already had a hate for Islam and Muslims or Arabs, they were already racist in one way or another, and easily attached themselves to Islamophobia.

2.) Opportunists. These individuals are always looking for a way to make a buck, to line their pockets. Real, honest work doesn’t suit their tastes and so they’ve devoted themselves to that centuries old money-maker, hate.

3.) True believers. They may come from various ends of the ideological spectrum, most of them are very afraid, fear courses through their every waking moment, they are made even more afraid by modern interpretations of say Biblical prophecies, or fears about the existential threat of the end of Western society.

4.) The gullible or the naive. These individuals read and believe the Islamophobic propaganda because they perceive the arguments as objective, factual, honest, and fitting with their worldview, or answering their confusion and incomprehension of world events or history.

+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.

[faidsaid]

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 ?

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

[ryu-fk]

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

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.

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.

[Yankee (BitInstant)]

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.

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.

[mem]

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.

basically this ^^

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 !".

[ryu-fk]

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

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

[Stardust]

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 !!!.

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.

[tonto]

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!" 

[arby]

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

[rjk]

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.