INTERPOL, UNCCT train regional investigators to combat terrorist internet exploitation

INTERPOL and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) held a three-day workshop last month for law enforcement from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, meant to train them on means of countering internet and social media use by terrorists.

In all, 15 participants attended the event, and in the process were taught how to collect, analyze and share information found online. Raising awareness was key, and trainers sought to enhance skills to identify and detect terrorist-related activities online, as well as collecting and preserving such evidence, requesting that evidence across borders, human rights considerations and how to properly dialogue with the private sector to advance investigations.

Trainers included members of the INTERPOL CT Directorate, the UNCCT, UN Women, the Australian Federal Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Justice (DoJ), the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), private sector companies like Facebook, and academia.