Tech Against Terrorism

Human rights experts around the world have warned that the rush to tackle terrorist activity online has had worrying implications for fundamental human rights and freedom of speech. How do we differentiate between ‘free speech’ and speech that aims to incite violence? In this episode we find out how governments and tech platforms are attempting to strike a balance between protecting our safety, and protecting our rights. Join Flora Deverell and Jacob Berntsson as they speak to Emma Llanso, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, and Dr. Krisztina Huszti-Orban, senior legal advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-terrorism and Human Rights. As governments and tech platforms across the world work to combat online extremism, this conversation asks – where should we draw the line, and how can we ensure our fundamental freedoms are protected? 

Whether it’s a manifesto posted on 8chan or an attack video uploaded to Facebook, terrorists and right-wing extremists are increasingly using the internet as a way to spread their hate-filled messages. In this episode, we find out how these groups are exploiting an entire tech ecosystem, and what is being done to combat it. Join Adam Hadley and Lorand Bodo as they speak to Matthew Feldman, director of the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right, and Audrey Alexander, researcher and instructor at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center. This conversation uncovers how violent extremist groups like ISIS are adapting to an online world, as their physical power diminishes. But does this decentralization actually make them a greater risk?