Europol report focusing on IT and terrorism
IT as tool for terrorists is a focus in Europol’s report on terrorism and trends in the European Union. “The use of generative-AI to create and disseminate propaganda and hate speech has reached unprecedented levels, especially in the right-wing scene. Radical individuals are able to generate propaganda items at a fast pace, allowing them to evade content moderation.”
“AI tools, including large language models (LLMs) and deepfake technology enable the creation of persuasive and deceptive content, shared at times in multiple languages and platforms in order to maximise reach.”
The report also says that 3D-printing technology, although not a new threat, is still a concern as it facilitates “a clandestine manufacturing of firearms bypassing the traditional supply chain and providing a steady internal source of firearms”.
The increased drones in wars as well as by terrorist organisations outside the EU, raises further concerns about potential future terrorist threats, the report says.
“Cryptocurrencies, as well as non-fungible digital assets (NFTs), served as critical tools for anonymous financing, enabling terrorist actors to transfer funds globally while evading traditional financial oversight.”
“Cryptocurrencies have also become crucial in the “digital hawala”, which is the digital adaptation of the traditional hawala system. Digital hawala provides a method of cross-border, pseudo-anonymous transfers through various digital methods (blockchain technology, mobile money etc.), resembling hawala’s physical informal network, while introducing added layers of security. The integration of these advanced technologies presents a complex and evolving threat landscape, challenging conventional counterterrorism and law enforcement measures alike.”
The report shows a total of 58 terrorist attacks reported by 14 EU member states in 2024. Of these, 34 were completed, 5 failed and 19 were foiled. Overall, 449 individuals were arrested for terrorism-related offences across 20 member states.
Almost 1 out of 3 suspects arrested for terrorism-related offences in 2024 was a minor or a young adult. The youngest offender was 12 years old, arrested for planning to commit an attack.
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