Napolitano: U.S. needs to monitor terrorist recruitment online

The U.S. needs to do more to monitor terrorist organizations that use the Internet for recruitment and training, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.

Napolitano told a gathering of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy on Friday that the government must strike a balance between preserving individuals' right to privacy and keeping the public safe from terrorist attacks, similar to the changes made to airline security in the wake of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

"The First Amendment protects radical opinions, but we need the legal tools to do things like monitor the recruitment of terrorists via the Internet," Napolitano said.

Napolitano's comments come after a rash of domestic terrorist attacks, including the Christmas Day bombing at a Detroit Airport, the attempted bombing of Times Square and the shooting at an Army base in Fort Hood, Texas. The alleged perpetrators of the latter two attacks, both American citizens, were reportedly inspired by the online postings of Islamic extremists.

Napolitano acknowledged that increased security would mean sacrificing individual liberties in some instances, but said those disruptions can be minimized.

"We can significantly advance security without having a deleterious impact on individual rights in most instances," Napolitano said. "At the same time, there are situations where trade-offs are inevitable."

One example she cited was the use of full-body scanners at airports, which some privacy advocates have deemed invasive. Napolitano said the Transportation Security Agency has mitigated the risks to travelers' privacy by banning operators from saving scans or taking pictures of them to preserve them for later.

Stewart Baker, former Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for policy under President Bush, told the Associated Press that Napolitano's comments show the Obama administration has matured in its understanding of how to best combat terrorism.

"Her speech is sign of the maturing of the administration on this issue," Baker said. "They now appreciate the risks and the trade-offs much more clearly than when they first arrived, and to their credit, they've adjusted their preconceptions."