On 28 May 2026, the Counter?Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) hosted an Insight Briefing focusing on how terrorist groups exploit digital ecosystems. The briefing featured panellists from the Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalization to Terrorism (AVERT) Research Network, an Australia-based member of CTED¡¯s Global Research Network (GRN). More than 50 representatives from Member States and Â鶹APP offices and agencies attended the event.
Mr. David Scharia, Director and Chief of Branch at CTED, opened the briefing by situating it within the ongoing review of the Â鶹APP Global Counter?Terrorism Strategy and underscored the timeliness of sharing with Member States emerging trends in terrorist use of digital spaces. He emphasized the value of the GRN, an informal group of more than 100 research institutions that connects research with policymakers.
Professor Michelle Grossman, founder of the AVERT Research Network, provided an overview of its multidisciplinary, policy-relevant research work. She highlighted AVERT¡¯s work connecting researchers, policymakers, and communities to produce research on terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.
Mr. Ali Fisher, Fellow at ITSTIME Research Centre and Lecturer at the Universit¨¤ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, analysed ISIL (Da¡¯esh) and Al-Qaida strategic communications trajectories. He explained that current terrorist communication uses ecosystem-based distribution across multiple platforms simultaneously and recommended focusing on system-level disruption rather than relying on isolated platform takedowns.
Mr. Saif Tahir, Research Assistant and doctoral candidate at Victoria University of Wellington, examined propaganda pathways used by Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He described TTP as a sophisticated digital propagandist, noting that the group integrates generative artificial intelligence tools to produce new propaganda content and enhance existing images, videos, and translations. TTP coordinates bot networks across multiple messaging applications to expand its audience and improve operational resilience.
Mr. Felix Neumann, Policy Adviser at the Germany-based Konrad Adenauer Foundation, focused on nihilist violent extremism from a policy and law enforcement perspective, noting that such actors often view violence as the goal itself rather than a political means. He highlighted the need for clearer definitions by lawmakers, recognition of transnational online networks, and tailored policy responses.
The final speaker, Ms. Helen Young, Associate Professor at Deakin University and Australian Research Council Future Fellow, outlined Australian governmental and non?governmental approaches to countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism in video?gaming environments. She spoke further on a civil?society pilot programme, entitled ¡°Game Changers¡±, that engaged young gamers in co?designing educational resources on online harms. She also emphasized that effective prevention requires a whole?of?society approach that involves gamers in building community resilience.
Facilitated by CTED¡¯s Political Analysis and Research Unit, this briefing was part of CTED¡¯s work on identifying emerging issues, trends and developments relating to countering terrorism, pursuant to Security Council resolutions and in close cooperation with academia, think tanks, and international, regional, and subregional organizations.