Session
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: We will provide a briefing on the work of CTED and other participating organizations and the theater format best accommodates a larger audience, visibility of speakers, and facilitates Q&A. 90 minutes is enough time for speakers to provide longer briefings and also leave time for (hopefully robust) Q&A with participants. We are open to conducting a 60 minute session with more tailored briefings and fewer Q&A, per IGF discretion.
Information and communication technologies (ICT) are mostly used for beneficial ends by the general population. Unfortunately, ICT and related emerging technologies are also increasingly exploited by terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/Da’esh, Al-Qaida, their affiliated groups and supporters, and other terrorist and violent extremist actors. These groups and supporters are known to exploit ICT to engage in a wide range of activities for terrorist purposes.
We will discuss why countering the use of ICT for terrorist purposes is an essential component of a multi-stakeholder digital environment and is necessary for maintaining peace and encouraging good relations between States, including in the pursuit of technological advances and societal development. We will also highlight the importance of inclusiveness (all-of-society approach), compliance with international human rights, and the strengthening of partnerships between diverse stakeholders in the design and implementation of State counter-terrorism efforts related to (and reliant upon) ICT and emerging technologies.
CTED will brief on its recent work to counter the use of ICT and emerging technology by terrorists as per UN Security Council resolutions and policy documents, with a focus on State practice and areas for continued effort, human rights, and public-private partnerships. CTED will also highlight relevant trends and emerging threats in the use of ICT for terrorist purposes and for countering such misuse. UNOCT and UNODC will similarly discuss their recent work and efforts to build State’s capacity in relation to ICT and emerging tech, digital evidence and data protection, and ICT-related human rights. Tech Against Terrorism will discuss its legal and human rights work with small technology companies/platforms to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms, while GIFCT will highlight its research and interactive work on with “big tech” and governments on preventing and countering terrorism online. A regional organization will be invited to also present its recent work in similar areas (i.e. PAM may highlight a new report on emerging technology/AI and terrorism; UNODC may highlight recent work relating to the impact of technology on transnational organized crime) [TBD].
A background paper will be made available as needed.
We will ensure the full engagement of participants both onsite and online, allowing them space for questions. The in-person moderator will manage questions at the end of the briefings and the online moderator will ensure that questions asked in the chat function are presented to speakers.
🔒CTED
Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
Tech Against Terrorism
Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT)
United Nations Office on Counter Terrorism (UNOCT)
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime/Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC)
Regional Organization (Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and/or the UNODC-NAUSS Interregional Centre of Excellence for Evidence-Based Drug Control, Crime Prevention, and Criminal Justice Policies and Strategies)
CTED: Assistant Secretary General Natalia Gherman, Executive Director, CTED (or her representative) [ONSITE]
CTED: Jennifer Bramlette [ONSITE] and other CTED experts on human rights/CVE/partnerships [VIRTUAL]
UNOCT [TBD]
UNODC [TBD]
Tech Against Terrorism: Adam Hadley, Executive Director (or his representative)
GIFCT: Nauren Choudury-Fink, Executive Director (or her representative)
Regional Body [TBD] [ONSITE]
Onsite: Jennifer Bramlette, Coordinator for Information and Communication Technology
Online: either CTED staff member in NYC or UNODC staff in Riyadh
Rapporteur – Lisa Letschert, Special Assistant to the CTED Executive Director
5. Gender Equality
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Targets: Growing ubiquitousness of information and communications technologies (ICT) has resulted in an increasing number of new threats and challenges, including those of a disruptive and destructive nature. At the same time, the benefits of a highly digitized world through increased use of ICT are vast—from supporting sustainable development to promoting inclusiveness and human agency. The malicious use of digital technologies affects all three main pillars of the UN’s work— international peace and security, human rights, and development—and thus constitutes a challenge deserving the attention of the whole UN system.
The Security Council has repeatedly called on States to ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and refugee law, as applicable. This is particularly relevant to the use of new technology in terrorism prevention and law enforcement efforts for which unintended consequences and potential human rights implications evolve in tandem with technological adaptations. The mainstreaming of gender perspectives across all aspects of terrorism prevention and counter-terrorism programmes, particularly those to counter the use of ICT and related new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, has become increasingly important.
A cooperative approach in partnership with the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders is stressed in Security Council resolutions 2322 (2016), 2370 (2017), 2395 (2017), 2396 (2017), and 2617 (2021). Coordination and cooperation, including the sharing of information, are essential for States to effectively counter-terrorism – whether across national administrations, with other States regionally and internationally, or with non-government partners. Strong engagement with the private sector, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders can also help States identify and include international standards and necessary safeguards into counter-terrorism frameworks to help mitigate risks and avoid potential negative impacts. Collaboration through such partnerships can additionally help States avoid restrictive responses based on potential risks that could be unnecessary and disproportionate to the advantages brought by ICT and related new and emerging technologies.