High Level Panel - The Dilemmas Involved in Countering Terrorism through the Internet: What’s at Stake?

Terrorist organisations are increasingly making use of the Internet for recruitment, incitement and radicalisation purposes, but also for financing, planning and preparing terrorist attacks. While several countries are working on new legislation providing the intelligence community far-reaching powers to crack down all communications on the Internet between terrorists, EU ministers increase pressure on the social media industry – such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter – to prevent the spread of radicalisation through the internet. However, these measures can have a serious impact on a range of important human rights as well, such as the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association and privacy. What are the possibilities legally speaking? And what’s at stake? The panellists will take a closer look at all the dilemmas countering terrorism through the internet can entail. 

After a welcome and introduction of the panellists by ICCT Director Mark Singleton, Europol Director Rob Wainwright will discuss the new Europe-wide police unit that focuses on online recruiters and PR-materials. How does the unit work and what are the difficulties it faces? Verity Harding (Head Security and Counter Extremism, Google Europe) will explain more about the activities that a company as Google can undertake on this topic. Lastly, Dr. Quirine Eijkman (Campus The Hague, Leiden University) will discuss the impact these policies and activities (could) have on human rights, and what the underlying risks are that need to be taken into consideration. After these presentations there is room for questions and discussion. If you would like to attend this event, you can RSVP by sending a message to events@icct.nl before Monday 17 August 2015.

Agenda

14:45 – 15:00   Doors open, coffee and tea served
15:00 – 15:10   Welcome by Mark Singleton (Director, ICCT)
15:10 – 15:25   Rob Wainwright (Director, Europol)
15:25 – 15:40   Verity Harding (Head Security and Counter Extremism, Google Europe)
15:40 – 15:55   Dr. Quirine Eijkman (Researcher, Campus The Hague, Leiden University)
15:55 – 17:00   Discussion
17:00 – 19:00   Drinks reception