(BRUSSELS) Technology can be used for good or for malicious purposes. Information and communications technologies (ICT) used for terrorist activities are often indistinguishable from regular usage. Also cross-border complexities of the Internet make addressing related issues challenging, particularly in the area of terrorist content.
“Tech Against Terrorism” is a new initiative launched on the margins of RightsCon (a major global event convened around issues related to the Internet and human rights) in Brussels that aims to help Member States and technology and communication companies with these and related issues. Smaller tech and social media companies face particular challenges — be they human, financial, or management-related — in developing and implementing measures to address terrorist activities online.
The second phase of a joint project between the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Swiss NGO ICT4Peace, with the support of ICT industry leaders, “Tech Against Terrorism” seeks to build bridges between public and private partners, ultimately leading to the development of a normative framework of self-regulation that can guide responses to terrorists’ use of the Internet, in compliance with international law standards.
The “Tech Against Terrorism” project will work with Member States and technology and communication companies to:
– Provide resources and guidance
– Offer a think tank environment and encourage peer learning and support from others who have faced similar challenges
– Develop links between startups and larger businesses, government, and academia.
More from ICT4Peace:
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For additional information, please contact Mattias Sundholm of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) at sundholm [at] .