Frighteningly, a young tech-savvy generation of would-be terrorists has identified ways in which to exploit social media and dubbed themselves the modern martyrs of terrorism.
Using social media as a fast and easy way in which to recruit and engage a threatening following, these radicals lay bare their views and generate hundreds of shares on Instagram, thousands of retweets on Twitter and video viewings.
Social media can be manipulated to be used in many different situations. According to UK security officials, about 400 Britons have travelled to Syria to fight since the war began and over half have returned. Dozens have been arrested under Acts of Parliament. The Home Office states that a huge proportion of them, from across the UK, use social media.
On top of this, the ubiquitous use of free messaging services such as WhatsApp and Internet phone services like Skype and Viber renders tracing communications a significant challenge for the authorities.
A prime example of this was when London experienced terrible riots back in 2011. Rioters were communicating with each other via BlackBerry Messenger. This made it incredibly difficult for the police service to track and trace where the next attack was being planned, in turn demonstrating that methods of communication have moved ahead of relying on tapping phone lines.
Police forces across the UK, as well as the Home Office and GCHQ, need to be well versed in social media and how they can overcome these challenges by engaging with it rather than resisting it.
David Evans of TINYg will discuss ‘The business case for counter-terrorism’ on 19 June at IFSEC International’s Risk & Security Management Theatre
Register your interest to visit IFSEC 2014 now.
When: 17-19 June 2014
Where: ExCeL, London
Citizens are now using the Internet to share information and mobilise communities to report crimes and using this data to combat crimes.
Tom Wingate, Public Order Engagement Lead for the Metropolitan Police Service, will take part in the panel session ‘Social Media – A Crime Fighting Tool?’ on 18 June in the Safe Cities Academy at IFSEC International and discuss how to embrace social media.
Wingate will be joined by Professor Dr. G. Keith Still FIMA FICPEM, Mike Bouldin (Manager – Public Safety, NICE Systems) and Hagai Segal, Counter-Terrorism Analyst and Lecturer at New York University, London.
Despite the obvious organisational risks that terrorist activities can present, challenges are still encountered at multiple levels in driving a business case for mitigating the risk. These can be operational, change-related, commercial or a matter of perception.
The potentially fatal consequences of terrorist activity in relation to any organisation or individual can be disastrous, even irrevocable.
David Evans of TINYg will discuss ‘The business case for counter-terrorism’ on 19 June at IFSEC International’s Risk & Security Management Theatre. This seminar is intended to provide a meaningful basis for the submission of a business case that provides risk mitigation capability while also addressing the potential commercial or philosophical pitfalls that may be encountered in its submission.
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