UN Warns of Da'esh Exploiting AI and Social Media for Recruitment and Propaganda

Da'esh's Evolving Threat Landscape

• 🌍 Despite international efforts, Da'esh remains a persistent threat, particularly in Africa, which accounts for over half of global fatalities from terrorist attacks.
• 🇦🇫 In Afghanistan, Da'esh Khorasan continues to be a significant threat, actively engaging in recruitment, fundraising, and propaganda, especially through online campaigns.
• 💰 Da'esh utilizes both digital innovations and traditional channels for financing, making it challenging to detect and suppress their financial flows.

United Nations Counter-Terrorism Efforts

• 🤝 The UN, through the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), is actively supporting member states by conducting assessment visits and providing tailored recommendations to enhance security council resolution implementation.
• 🇸🇴 In Somalia, CTED, in collaboration with UNODC, supports efforts to counter al-Shabaab's use of technology for fundraising and recruitment, with Da'esh Somalia playing a growing logistical role globally.
• 🇪🇺 The EU-UN global terrorism threats facility supports legislative reform, capacity building, and dialogues on prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration in affected states.

Exploitation of Technology by Terrorist Groups

• 🤖 Da'esh's exploitation of artificial intelligence and social media for recruitment, fundraising, and propaganda requires innovative responses.
• ✈️ CTED supports member states in implementing guiding principles against the terrorist use of unmanned aircraft systems and emerging financial technologies.
• 💡 While AI amplifies terrorist reach, it also presents significant potential for states to enhance the detection, prevention, and disruption of terrorist activities.
• 🌐 The threat of terrorism is becoming more diffuse and complex due to technological transformation and geopolitical uncertainty, necessitating continued commitment from the UN and member states.