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I am working on one of the classes I teach on terrorism. The last assignment was on the use of technology by terrorist organizations. I find it an interesting topic considering all of the recent events.

Terrorist organizations are using technology far more than we realize and going undetected. The main reason is law enforcement, for the most part, is not in cyber to investigate crimes or terrorist acts. Many people look at cyber as a federal problem to deal with, no one else. I will tell you that it is 100% wrong! Anyone in law enforcement should be involved with cyber or technology.  If you are in law enforcement or going into law enforcement, you need not ignore the cyber threat. The cyber threat is real, and it is only going to get worse because little to nothing is being done about it, especially in the area of terrorism.

Technology is Making Terrorists More Effective—And Harder to Thwart

This was an article from earlier this year. It is a good article, and I don’t think it addresses all of the issues we are dealing with when it comes to cyber and terrorist acts.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/technology-making-terrorists-more-effective%E2%80%94and-harder-thwart-45452

Terrorists Are Going to Use Artificial Intelligence

This title speaks for itself. Who in LE knows/understands AI? See the problem?!

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2018/05/terrorists-are-going-use-artificial-intelligence/147944/

The rise of tech-savvy global terrorist networks

This is an older article (2015). There was concern back then of the cyber threat involving terrorist organizations. Has much changed today?

https://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/04/the-everyday-technology-helping-terrorists-plot-evil.html

The Role of Technology in Modern Terrorism

This article from InfoSec is a little more detailed about the danger of cyber terrorism, from 2018.  This helps spell out the real threat we all are facing when terrorist organizations level technology. Not only can they spread their propaganda but they can use technology to fund their operations or even carry out attacks with little to no loss of their assets. Here are some of the possibilities for terrorist organizations using technology:

· Propaganda

· Psychological warfare

· Recruitment and mobilization

· Fundraising

· Data Mining, information gathering

· Secure communications

· Cyberattacks

· Software distribution (e.g., mobile app)

· Buying false documents

· Training

https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/the-role-of-technology-in-modern-terrorism