US taps online youth groups to fight crime, terrorism News - Yahoo!Xtra News

US taps online youth groups to fight crime, terrorism News - Yahoo!Xtra News

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US State Department announced plans on Monday to promote online youth groups as a new and powerful way to fight crime, political oppression and terrorism.

Drawing inspiration from a movement against FARC rebels in Colombia, the State Department is joining forces with Facebook , Google, MTV, Howcast and others in New York City next week to get the "ball rolling."

It said 17 groups from South Africa , Britain and the Middle East which have an online presence like the "Million Voices Against the FARC" will attend a conference at Columbia University Law School from December 3-5.

Observers from seven organizations that do not have an online presence -- such as groups from Iraq and Afghanistan -- will attend. There will also be remote participants from Cuba.

They will forge an "Alliance of Youth Movement," said James Glassman, under secretary of state for public diplomacy.