In a groundbreaking move, the UK government is contemplating classifying extreme misogyny as a form of terrorism, according to recent reports. This potential shift in policy is driven by increasing violence against women and girls and aims to address gaps in the current counter-terrorism strategy.Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has initiated a review of the counter-terrorism framework, focusing on the rise of online misogynistic ideologies and their impact. The review seeks to identify deficiencies in existing laws and scrutinize how extremist ideologies are proliferating online.The proposed legislation could equate violence against women with far-right extremism, potentially broadening the scope of counter-terrorism measures. If enacted, the new rules would require school teachers to report students displaying extreme misogynistic behavior to the government’s counter-terror program. These students would then be assessed by local police to determine if they exhibit signs of radicalization and whether they require intervention for deradicalization.This initiative follows warnings about misogynistic influencers, such as Andrew Tate, who are accused of radicalizing young boys online in ways similar to terrorist recruitment tactics. Reports have highlighted instances where male students harassed female teachers or peers, mirroring rhetoric propagated by such influencers.The UK Home Ministry has already recognized various extremism categories, including the “incel” movement, which promotes a misogynistic belief system blaming women for men’s romantic failures. However, officials are concerned that current categories do not fully address other forms of extreme misogyny.”For too long, governments have failed to address the rise in extremism, both online and on our streets,” Cooper said in a statement to The Telegraph. “We’ve seen the number of young people radicalized online grow. Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy.”This proposal comes in the wake of a report by the UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council, which recently declared violence against women and girls a national emergency.