UN Security Council Resolution looks to Tech Against Terrorism to support the Somali government in identifying and disrupting Al-Shabaab terrorist activity online.
In a resolution adopted on December 1, 2023, the United Nations Security Council encouraged the UN’s Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) to work with initiatives such as Tech Against Terrorism “to support the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia (GFRS) with analysis and reporting on the use of online platforms for terrorist purposes by Al-Shabaab, and work in collaboration with Member States in the region to facilitate capacity building in detecting and disrupting Al-Shabaab's terrorist activities.”
The resolution, S/RES/2713 (2023), expressed concern over Al-Shabaab's exploitation of information and communication technologies, including through the internet, particularly social media, for terrorist purposes. It strongly encouraged Member States to work with the GFRS to prevent Al-Shabaab from using social media platforms for criminal purposes and to counter terrorist propaganda.
Tech Against Terrorism, an initiative launched by the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), is focused on supporting the global tech industry in preventing the exploitation of their platforms by terrorists and violent extremists. The resolution recognises the potential for Tech Against Terrorism to assist the Somali government in several ways:
1. Providing analysis and reporting on Al-Shabaab's use of online platforms and social media for terrorist purposes.
2. Collaborating with Member States in the region to build capacity in detecting and disrupting Al-Shabaab's terrorist activities online.
3. Offering expertise and guidance on countering terrorist propaganda and preventing the misuse of social media platforms by Al-Shabaab for criminal purposes.
Tech Against Terrorism hopes to make its knowledge and resources available to the Government of Somalia to strengthen its efforts to counter the online activities of Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that continues to pose a serious threat to peace and security both in Somalia and in the wider region.
Related news: Inside Somalia’s War on Al-Shabab Disinformation.