Al-Qaeda and other radical groups have dramatically increased their use of the Internet in recent years to lure and train recruits worldwide, a US Senate report warned.

"Terrorists, whom some dismiss as people living in caves, are as sophisticated in their communication abilities today as most members of 'Generation Y,'" said committee chairperson Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent.

While extremist groups began using the Internet about a decade ago, the report said many have become experts in going online to push their message.

Lieberman and Collins quoted Defence Secretary Robert Gates as saying last November: "We are miserable at communicating to the rest of the world what we are about as a society and a culture. ... It is just plain embarrassing that al-Qaeda is better at communicating its message on the Internet than America."

IOL Tech