(BRUSSELS) A new initiative launches this week at RightsCon to help tech startups counter the use of technology to support terrorism. Tech Against Terrorism (www.techagainstterrorism.org), a joint project between The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Swiss NGO ICT4Peace will provide them with tools and tactics, the ability to learn from each other, and global networking and other opportunities to engage with governments more effectively.
Tech businesses are under pressure to prevent their platforms from being used for terrorist purposes, and to provide access to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
This week the heat has been turned up, with tech giants being quizzed by the British Government, with even tiny startups such as JustPaste.it being mentioned by British Home Secretary Amber Rudd. Businesses have been engaged in a move to take responsibility for content on social media platforms in the aftermath of the Westminster attack. Privacy and security are fundamentals for everyone online, but it is tech companies, some of them large but many of them small, who have found themselves at the centre of this debate and caught off guard by the use of their systems for terrorist purposes.
Technology can be used for good or for malicious purposes. Some uses of the Internet and information and communications technologies (ICT) for terrorist purposes are often indistinguishable from regular usage. Also trans-border complexities of the Internet make addressing related issues challenging, particularly in the area of terrorist or violent extremist content.
The overall goal of the Tech Against Terrorism Project is to build bridges between business and government, civil society and academia. The startup focus addresses the fact that smaller tech businesses face these challenges alone, and often need to define for themselves their own code of conduct or self regulation.
The Tech Against Terrorism Project will work with technology startups to:
- Provide resources and guidance
- Offer a think tank environment for dealing with the ‘conceptual issues’
- Encourage peer learning and support from others who have faced similar challenges
- Develop links between startups and larger businesses, government and academia
Launching at RightsCon, ICT4Peace and UN CTED are focussing on empowering startups and small technology companies as well as reaching out to States who have sought guidance in tackling the terrorist use of the Internet and social media. Specific focus for 2017 will be establishing an online “Knowledge Sharing Platform” to give companies and States tools and guidelines to help support them in preventing the terrorist use of technology while respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. Tech Against Terrorism is facilitating a series of events, starting in London this summer, and is calling for startups to get involved.
The Tech Against Terrorism launch at RightsCon will bring together a panel including EUROPOL IRU, Facebook, Global Network Initiative, JustPaste.It, Microsoft, UN CTED, and the ICT4Peace Foundation.
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ABOUT
ICT4Peace is a policy and action-oriented international Foundation whose purpose is to save lives and protect human dignity through Information and Communication Technology. We promote cybersecurity and a peaceful cyberspace through international negotiations with governments, companies and non-state actors. We also explore and champion the use of ICTs and media for crisis management, humanitarian aid and peace building.
CONTACT
More information about the ICT For Peace Foundation can be found at https://ict4peace.org
The initiative is being led by Adam Hadley adamhadley@ict4peace.org.
Startup businesses or networks wishing to get involved should email Katie Lips katielips@ict4peace.org
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Download this press release as a PDF here.