The ATU combats terrorist use of the Internet by identifying emerging trends as well as potential counter-measures.

Since 2004, the Unit has devoted several OSCE-wide events to this issue allowing experts to share and showcase national best practices, as well as promoting relevant human rights aspects. The OSCE is also considering follow-up activities aimed at addressing cyber-security in a comprehensive manner.

The work conducted within this portfolio recognizes that the Internet has become a strategic device and a tactical facilitator for terrorists.It is used for a variety of purposes such as identifying, recruiting and training new members, collecting and transferring funds, organizing terrorist acts, and inciting terrorist violence. Use of computer systems and the Internet as weapons for cyber-attacks is also a growing concern.

A high-level conference organised in May 2011 at the initiative of the 2011 OSCE Lithuanian Chairmanship-in-Office aimed at identifying the future OSCE role in this thematic area complementing international efforts already underway, and follow-up efforts are currently underway.

Events organized/facilitated by the ATU include:

• The OSCE Expert Workshop on Combating the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes held on 13-14 October 2005 in Vienna, which primarily raised awareness of participating States on terrorist use of the Internet to communicate, plan, organize, as well as raise and transfer funds. (152 participants from 56 OSCE participating States and OSCE Partner for Co-operation States);
• The joint OSCE/CoE Expert Workshop on Preventing Terrorism: Fighting Incitement and Related Terrorist Activities, held on 19-20 October 2006 in Vienna, an entire session of which focused on the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes and reiterated the severity of the threat. It also contributed to the adoption of MC.DEC/7/06. (180 participants from 47 OSCE participating States and OSCE Partner for Co-operation States)
• The 2007 Expert Workshop on Combating Incitement to Terrorism on the Internet, held on 15-16 November 2007 in Vienna which built on the outcomes of the previous two events and showcased national and international good practices to counter incitement to terrorism online. (135 participants from 41 OSCE participating States and OSCE Partner for Co-operation States)
• The National Expert Workshop on Combating Terrorist Use of the Internet and Comprehensively Enhancing Cyber-security held on 25-26 February 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia, where, for the first time, combating terrorist use of the Internet was discussed within a framework aimed at comprehensively enhancing cyber security. (50 participants from Serbia) 
• The OSCE Workshop on a Comprehensive OSCE Approach to Enhancing Cyber Security held on 17-18 March 2009 in Vienna. It helped increase the awareness of the OSCE participating States regarding concrete steps to comprehensively strengthen cyber security. It also led to a list of concrete recommendations and suggestions regarding the future role of the OSCE in this thematic area. (200 participants from 50 OSCE participating States and OSCE Partner for Co-operation States)
• The National Expert Workshop on a Comprehensive Approach to Cyber Security, held on 23-24 November 2009 in Zagreb. It brought together relevant national stakeholders from the public and the private sector, helped build political will to address cyber security in a comprehensive manner and also resulted in concrete recommendations for decision makers. (140 national participants)
• On 1 April 2010, the ATU held an expert panel aimed at promoting a comprehensive approach to cyber security, with a focus on discussing responses, countermeasures and the way forward, in the framework of the Fourth International Forum on Cybercriminality, in Lille, France.
• On 8-9 December 2010, the ATU in co-operation with the OSCE Office in Yerevan organized a national expert workshop on combating terrorist use of the Internet and comprehensively enhancing cyber-security. The workshop led to concrete recommendations on potential follow up action areas to further enhance cyber security in a comprehensive manner in Armenia, focusing on aspects of co-operation between state authorities, the private sector, civil society and international entities; the legal framework; as well as technical and societal preparedness related to cyber incidents. (50 national participants)
• On 9-10 May 2011 an OSCE Conference exploring the future role of the Organization in tackling challenges arising from cyberspace took place in Vienna. Over 200 participants reviewed the multitude of threats emanating from cyberspace and highlighted responses to different types of related challenges, including by international and regional organizations such as the UN, IAEA, ITU, INTERPOL, EU, Council of Europe, CSTO, OAS and NATO. The conference goal was to identify the future OSCE role in this thematic area complementing international efforts already underway, and drawing on the Organization’s strength as a platform for co-operative security as well as its trademark comprehensive approach to (cyber-) security. The event was organized in line with PC.DEC/991 and PC.DEC/992 upon the initiative of the 2011 Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office. The ATU acted as conference focal point. Follow-up efforts are currently under consideration.

For more information, please contact the ATU directly.