CT TECH kick-off meeting
Background
Security Council Resolutions 2178 (2014) and 2396 (2017) call for Member States to act cooperatively when taking national measures to prevent terrorists from exploiting technology and communications for terrorist acts.
Security Council Resolution 2396 (2017) encourage Member States to enhance cooperation with the private sector, especially with information communication technology companies, in gathering digital data and evidence in cases related to terrorism.
The latest review resolution of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the General Assembly 30 June 2021, expresses deep concern about "the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies, including social media platforms, for terrorist purposes, including the continued spread of terrorist content” and encourages Member States “to work together and with relevant stakeholders, including academia, the private sector and civil society, to ensure that terrorists do not find safe haven online, while promoting an open, interoperable, reliable and secure Internet that fosters efficiency, innovation, communication and economic prosperity, while respecting international law, including international human rights law, including the right to freedom of expression.”
The UNCCT Global Programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies provides capacity-building support to requesting Member States for the challenges and opportunities that new technologies provide in preventing and countering terrorism. The programme is funded by the European Union, Germany, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
New York, Singapore, Vienna, Brussels, 10 February 2022 – The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the European Commission concluded the virtual kick-off meeting for CT TECH initiative.
CT TECH is a joint UNOCT/UNCCT and INTERPOL initiative, funded by the EU and implemented under the overall scope of the UNCCT/UNOC Global Counter-Terrorism Programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies. It aims to strengthen capacities of law enforcement and criminal justice authorities to counter the exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes as well as to support the leveraging of new technologies in the fight against terrorism.
Specifically, CT TECH will support Member States in developing effective counter-terrorism responses towards the challenges and opportunities of new technologies in countering terrorism, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law, by increasing law enforcement and criminal justice operational capacity and policies related to countering the exploitation of new technologies for terrorist purposes.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Raffi Gregorian, Director and Deputy to the Under-Secretary General, UNOCT thanked the EU for their generous contributions and highlighted that CT TECH “will support Member States in developing effective counter-terrorism policy responses towards the challenges and opportunities of new technologies [and] strengthen law enforcement and criminal justice operational capacities to counter the exploitation of new technologies and digital platforms such as the Internet, social media, virtual assets and the dark net used for terrorist purposes.”
INTERPOL Counter Terrorism Director Greg Hinds highlighted that the terrorist threat is multidimensional and operates in different landscapes, forms and faces. Understanding how digitalization and new technologies enable crime and terrorism, and empower threat actors, requires continuous and concerted efforts and need to be an integral part of crime prevention and disruption strategies.’
Mr. Jesper Pedersen, Deputy Head of Unit, Peace and Stability , Global Threats, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission delivered a statement on behalf of Ms. Natalie Pauwels, Head of Unit, Peace and Stability, Global Threats, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission which emphasized that “while new technologies can provide opportunities and solutions to better protect citizens from crime and terrorism, their misuse can also heighten security threats. Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies will be at the core of our actions, using a human rights-based approach”.
CT TECH was attended by over 150 participants from the Permanent Missions to the United Nations, Member States’ capitals, UN entities and regional organizations.
The meeting formally introduced CT TECH’s objective, capacity building needs, preliminary plan of action and division of labour to Member States, international organizations, EU officials in Delegations and in Headquarters and how capacity building assistance can be requested.
CT TECH will be implemented over the next 30 months.