The delegates discussed exploitation of social media, dark web and anonymizers, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency and virtual sssets

New Delhi, April 15

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) organised a two day Brazil, Russia , India, China & South Africa (BRICS) Seminar (through virtual mode) on “Misuse of Internet for Terrorist Purposes and Role of Digital Forensics in Terrorist Investigations”. 

The NIA said that this two day seminar was inaugurated by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on April 13. The NIA organised this two day seminar while India is holding the Chairship of the BRICS for the year 2021.

The BRICS member states in 3rd Counter Terrorism Working Group(CTWG) at White River, South Africa had agreed to establish five sub working groups dedicated to enhance debates over specific challenges on counter-terrorism front. Thereafter, in 4th CTWG meeting at Brasilia, India was given the Presidency of the sub-working group on “Misuse of Internet for Terrorist Purposes” for one year. 

The NIA officials stated that in the seminar, 40 experts from the five member countries deliberated upon technical sessions including ‘Exploitation of Social Media as an Arsenal ’, ‘Dark web and Anonymizers’, ‘Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence’, ‘Cryptocurrency and Virtual Assets: Vulnerability of Privacy and Online Stealth’, Equipping Law Enforcement Agencies: CT investigations and digital forensics to deal with such challenges. In addition, two panel discussions on engaging multiple stakeholders from both public and private sectors to tackle the misuse of internet and enhancing international co-operation to effectively tackle the exploitation of the Internet by terrorists for their nefarious activities,  were also held.

The delegates of the seminar appreciated the fact that in the current milieu of breakneck technological innovations and ever evolving digital landscape, the challenges pertaining to prevention , control and prosecution of the terrorist misuse of internet are immense.  

The officials further said that it was emphasised that it is only through expedient international co-operation and seamless sharing of good practices in tackling this menace that we can create a safer and secure environment for the citizens of BRICS member states as well as the whole world.