The area of cryptocurrencies has been recognized by United Nations in the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS), with the latest review resolution adopted by the General Assembly 30 June 2021. In the GCTS, it was noted concern of all virtual assets as an emerging technology in OP 40 and called upon Member States to enhance efforts in OP 57 in fighting terrorism, including mention of virtual assets.
Programme Description
The Global Counter Terrorism Programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies was adopted in April 2020 with the aim to enhance the capacities of Member States, international and regional organisations and UN entities to raise awareness of the terrorist cyber-threat and to enhance technical capacities required to prevent, mitigate and respond to terrorist and violent extremist groups misusing new technologies like the internet and Artificial Intelligence. The programme also intends to enhance capacities of Member States to counter and investigate terrorist activities by gathering digital forensic evidence and through the use of new technologies.
The 4-year programme supports Pillar II – Preventing and Combatting Terrorism - of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. The Global Programme supports UN’s strategic commitment to a world without terrorism by:
- building a collective understanding on the threat of malicious uses of new technologies by terrorists
- improving national capabilities to protect critical infrastructure from terrorist cyber-attacks and investigate terrorist activities online by collecting digital evidence and through the use of new technologies
- promoting international partnerships to collaborate against terrorist use of new technologies.
eLearning Objectives
To be with, the Global CT programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies is offering two courses on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) for the investigation of terrorist activities and Protection of Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Cyber-Attacks. Each course consists of several training modules designed for self-paced learning. These courses are introductory and are complementary to the virtual and in-person capacity building workshops.
Course 1: Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) for the investigation of terrorist activities:
Description: This course addresses all aspects of terrorist presence online, and ways to investigate it. Two capability pillars are envisioned to be developed: technical/procedural online investigation know-how, and content knowledge on how terrorists use online spaces. The training is represented by a maturity model, which would guide students’ progress on a learning map. This would encourage students to complete all training and monitor their progress as well. Furthermore, two UN-led areas of expertise would permeate all the training: human rights and gender issues. This course consists of 4 training modules.
Intended audience: Law enforcement, Counter-terrorism agencies
Language: English
Course 2: Protection of Critical Infrastructure from Terrorist Cyber-Attacks:
Description: This course has the overall objective of raising the awareness of cyber-threats posed by terrorist actors and to enhance knowledge on potential solutions to increase the security of critical infrastructure IT systems and to mitigate the effects of cyber-attacks. The training modules of the course aims to deliver support to Member States in the prevention, mitigation, and investigation of cyber-attacks by terrorist against critical infrastructure. The course consists of 3 training modules.
Intended audience: CSIRT, CERTs, responders, law enforcement and counter-terrorism agencies, policy-makers, and owners of critical infrastructure, implement critical infrastructure protection, respond to and mitigate the impact of malicious cyber acts against ICT, and investigate associated terrorist actions
Language: English