Terrorism becomes more fragmented and diffuse: UN official
Summary
UN officials say terrorism is becoming more fragmented and harder to track as groups use technology, decentralized cells and criminal networks to expand their reach. They are also exploiting social media, AI, online payments and drone systems for recruitment, financing and attacks.
Key Points
- Terrorist groups are decentralizing operations and becoming more fragmented, making them harder to detect and disrupt.
- Technology, including social media, AI, online payment services and unmanned aircraft systems, is increasingly being used for propaganda, recruitment, financing and attacks.
- Children and young people are being targeted through gaming and virtual spaces for recruitment by violent extremist groups.
- The nexus between terrorism and organized crime remains a major concern, with groups using extortion, kidnapping, trafficking and resource exploitation to fund operations.
