On 7 December 2021, Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), took part in the Open Forum on "Connecting the digital dots - how the UN System is supporting the digital transformation and the way forward" organized by the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
Addressing the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the counter-terrorism context, Assistant Secretary-General Coninsx noted that, while the cyber domain could improve people’s quality of life, it could also serve as a valuable tool for terrorist groups. Acting on behalf of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, CTED worked to assist Member States to prevent and counter terrorists’ efforts to exploit digital platforms to disseminate propaganda and conduct recruitment campaigns. CTED also supported States’ efforts to develop initiatives to prevent use of the Internet for terrorist purposes and to create innovative technological solutions in compliance with international law.
Assistant Secretary-General Coninsx noted that CTED’s efforts focused on, inter alia, gathering digital data and supporting online investigations, strengthening international cooperation for legal access to electronic evidence, countering online terrorist narratives and the use of gaming platforms to incite violent acts, gathering and sharing biometric and biographical information, protecting critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, preventing the use of ICT to facilitate the trafficking in persons, and countering terrorists’ use of new financial instruments.
The IGF Forum provided a welcome opportunity for CTED to discuss ways to harness the positive aspects of new digital technologies and tackle the related challenges, including through cooperation with partners such as civil society, the private sector, members of the CTED Global Research Network, United Nations partners, and relevant international and regional organizations.