Tech Against Terrorism

In the case of the recent terrorist attack in Christchurch, British and Australian tabloids were instrumental in making the gunman’s attack video and manifesto go viral. There have been a number of occasions where the work of the tech sector to take down extremist content from online platforms has been undermined by mainstream media outlets. Join Lorand Bodo as he speaks to Kyle Taylor, executive director of Hacked Off, a group which campaigns for a free and accountable press in the UK, and Abdirahim Saaed, a journalist for BBC Monitoring, who tracks and analyses the propaganda output of salafi-jihadist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Focussing on the UK landscape, this episode explores how news media can provide some of the most effective PR for terrorists, promoting and giving tremendous reach to their messages of hate, by spreading videos and images. It particularly focuses on the importance of imposing stringent and robust rules on UK newspapers, which currently lack independent regulation. It's clear we need a solution, because right now we’re playing directly into the terrorists’ hands.

Although terrorist and extremist groups largely use traditional methods to fund their activities, the anonymity cryptocurrency affords is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative. Join Adam Hadley and Lorand Bodo as they speak to Nick Furneaux, author of ‘Investigating Cryptocurrencies’, Florence Keen, research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London, and retired police officer Andrew McDonald, who served as head of specialist investigations of the UK National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit at New Scotland Yard. This episode explores the myriad of means used by terrorists to sustain their lifestyle, fund operations, recruit individuals, and build capacity. It highlights the need for increased knowledge sharing between law enforcement officials, researchers, and the fintech community, to combat the issue. Although we're not yet in the danger zone with terrorist use of digital money, it's coming. Terrorists are like any other criminals, and they will exploit any avenue necessary to achieve their goals. 

Effective analysis of publicly available information is critical in countering terrorist use of the internet. But just as open source intelligence can used as a tool for good, would-be terrorists can also exploit the data to plan attacks. Join Adam Hadley and Lorand Bodo as they speak to Benjamin Strick, an open-source investigator for BBC Africa Eye, Nico, a.k.a ‘DutchOSINTGuy’, a former police officer in the Netherlands, and Terry Pattar, who runs the intelligence unit at the security analysis firm Jane’s 360. This episode explores how intrigue and curiosity helps these experts infiltrate online extremist networks, where messages of propaganda and hate and being spread. Be warned - tread carefully when entering the world of OSINT and the dark web. Because when you’re looking at terrorists, they could be looking right back at you.

Human rights experts around the world have warned that the rush to tackle terrorist activity online has had worrying implications for fundamental human rights and freedom of speech. How do we differentiate between ‘free speech’ and speech that aims to incite violence? In this episode we find out how governments and tech platforms are attempting to strike a balance between protecting our safety, and protecting our rights. Join Flora Deverell and Jacob Berntsson as they speak to Emma Llanso, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, and Dr. Krisztina Huszti-Orban, senior legal advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights. As governments and tech platforms across the world work to combat online extremism, this conversation asks – where should we draw the line, and how can we ensure our fundamental freedoms are protected? 

Whether it’s a manifesto posted on 8chan or an attack video uploaded to Facebook, terrorists and right-wing extremists are increasingly using the internet as a way to spread their hate-filled messages. In this episode, we find out how these groups are exploiting an entire tech ecosystem, and what is being done to combat it. Join Adam Hadley and Lorand Bodo as they speak to Matthew Feldman, director of the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right, and Audrey Alexander, researcher and instructor at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center. This conversation uncovers how violent extremist groups like ISIS are adapting to an online world, as their physical power diminishes. But does this decentralization actually make them a greater risk?