OSCE holds workshop on threat posed by use of Internet by terrorists

VIENNA, 14 October 2005 - Identifying ways of combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes while ensuring continued respect for human rights was the aim of an OSCE-organized meeting of experts that ended today in Vienna.

The two-day workshop, hosted by the OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit (ATU), considered concrete measures to enhance international co-operation in the field.

"It is common knowledge that the Internet is used by terrorists to identify and recruit potential members, collect and transfer funds, organize terrorist acts, as well as provide training and to incite offences through the use of propaganda," said Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council.

"Concerned at this continued exploitation of the Internet by various terrorist organizations, the OSCE Foreign Ministers have approved a decision that calls for identifying strategies to address this phenomenon. This workshop is the first step in that process."

He also said that measures to prevent and combat terrorism enjoy broad consensus and firm support of the OSCE participating States, and that they are united in their desire to effectively deal with the terrorist threat.

Karl Wycoff, the Head of the ATU, said: "Internet recourses are of constantly growing importance for terrorist organizations. Law enforcement should closely monitor the activities of terrorists and their supporters on the Internet. Depriving terrorists of safety while they use the Internet will contribute greatly to the global fight against terrorism."

Participants pointed out that a concerted effort within the OSCE region is the only viable means to counter this threat, particularly because terrorist organizations take advantage of a tool which is universal while regulations on the use of the Internet are national.

"With their online operations banned in some states, terrorists simply move operations to another venue," added Wycoff.

"It goes without saying that any measure which is being taken to combat terrorist use of the Internet needs to be within the framework of international standards for human rights, privacy and freedom of opinion and expression, which is the only way to allow law enforcement to efficiently act against terrorists exploiting the Internet.".

Participants also discussed possible measures for combating the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes within OSCE participating States, including relevant legislation, investigation techniques and international legal co-operation in this area.