global internet forum to combat terrorism

• • Online forums such as Twitter are free and international, allowing anyone to sign up for an account and post. 
  • This has become an attractive recruiting tool for terrorists. 
• Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism

  • NGO designed to ‘prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms’. 
  • Founded by the likes of Meta, Microsoft, Youtube and X in 2017. 
  • These approaches aim to automatically identify and remove terrorist or extremist content.
• • In 2016, Twitter deletes 125,000 ISIS accounts and expansa anti-terror teams. 
  • ISIS has been linked to automated accounts, or bots, to churn out extremists rhetoric. 
  • Until recently tech companies have not been willing to discuss the details of their policies or procedures, which have been viewed as controversial because of the complex and political nature of the judgments behind removing messages.
• Limitations to Global Internet Forum to Terrorism

  • Terrorist groups commonly use a ‘swarm casting’ multi platform approach, leverage 700 platforms or more to distribute their content.
  • It involves using figures on these major platforms to direct people to locations with terrorist material. 
  • While content may be flagged and removed, it remains accessible due to swarmcasting
• • Increased internet access in Africa and Middle East meant that ISIS have a new pool of potential supporters who can be recruited to regain control of lost territory
  • ‘Communications between potential volunteers and recruiters go relatively undetected.’ (Aljazeera, 2022)
  • ISIS’s strategic use of social media has mobilised an estimated 40,000 foreign nationals from 110 countries to join the group, according to the BBC.
• • Africa is the world’s fastest growing mobile phone market from.
  • According to RAND, in 2017, there were 147 million internet uses in the Middle East and North Africa, and 93 active social media users. 
  • These large numbers underscore the threat that terrorist groups could use to leverage and maintain their power.