Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Holds Special Meeting on Preventing Exploitation of Internet, Social Media for Terrorist Purposes

Exploitation of the Internet and social media for terrorist purposes will be defeated, including through sustained and comprehensive action involving the active participation and collaboration of Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society and the private sector, according to the one of the preliminary conclusions of a special meeting in New York on 1 December.

Organized by the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and chaired by Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta (Egypt), the meeting — “Preventing the exploitation of information and communication technologies (ICT) for terrorist purposes, while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms” — was held against the backdrop of a significant and growing threat posed to Member States by the exploitation of ICT, the Internet and social media in particular, for terrorist purposes.

In a number of resolutions, the Security Council has recognized that threat and called upon Member States to take the measures needed to deliver an effective response.  Speakers also noted the need to share good practices, including with the private sector, and national experiences and measures aimed at detecting, preventing and countering the use of ICT for terrorist purposes.

“We must work together to promote dialogue among all stakeholders in order to find effective ways to prevent the exploitation of information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes,” Mr. Aboulatta said in his closing statement.

Participants in the special meeting and accompanying technical sessions organized by the Committee’s Executive Directorate included representatives of Member States, international and regional organizations, United Nations entities, the private sector, academia and civil society, as well as faith leaders.

For additional information, please contact Mattias Sundholm, United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), at e-mail:  sundholm@un.org.