World peace under threat from terrorists using social media

From the New Straits Times (May 21): World peace under threat from terrorists using social media

The use of social media and mobile messaging applications to promote terrorism is threatening global peace. (NSTP Archive)

KUALA LUMPUR: The use of social media and mobile messaging applications to promote terrorism is threatening global peace.

Counter-terrorism expert Andrin Raj said such threats from terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) were real.

“These groups have established effective platforms with skills, knowledge and know-how to influence, radicalise and create a virtual caliphate for their ideological and perpetrated religious beliefs,” said Raj, the International Association of Counter-terrorism and Security Professionals (IACSP) regional director for Southeast Asia.

He said IACSP found that the threat had expanded from Southeast Asia to Europe, the Middle East and Northwest Africa.

“They have links to all jihadist groups working in support of al-Qaeda and IS through (messaging app) Telegram. Email systems are also being reactivated by these groups.

“Information never is transmitted directly to anyone, to safeguard their members’ identities and locations, but the information sits in the draft box with the same username and password that the network relies on,” said Raj in response to the arrest of seven radicals by Special Branch counter-terrorism operatives recently.

The seven are reportedly members of the IS linked to a cell group which had plotted to attack non-Muslim places of worship and assassinate high-profile personalities here.

Raj said the informants’ source was kept limited that even the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation took up to a year to investigate money laundering via terrorist networks.

“(Some of) these cybertroopers, with operatives globally, have infiltrated political parties, non-governmental organisations and security agencies mainly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.”

Raj said a new Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), with a new structure and leader, had been established in Indonesia with direct links to al-Qaeda, IS and Abu Sayyaf.

“They have also begun recruiting members with the assistance of former JI members who have not been identified or captured, to build the network within Southeast Asia using social media.”

For this reason, he supported Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu’s call for the establishment of a new cyber defence force globally to counter militant threats.

Raj said counter-terrorism information technology experts who were knowledgeable about the militants’ operations and psychological aspects needed to be brought in to complement such a force.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/05/490180/world-peace-under-threat-terrorists-using-social-media