TERRORISTS’ ACTIVITIES ON-LINE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC - THE EUROPEAN PERSPECCTIVE
TERRORISTS’ ACTIVITIES ON-LINE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC - THE EUROPEAN PERSPECCTIVE

Summary/Abstract: This essay presents the overview of the terrorists’ activities online during theCoViD-19 pandemic. It points out the key trends in cyber-security and terrorism threat in2020 and 2021 . These trends are illustrated with major violent incidents and cyber-attacks.Research focuses mainly on the European perspective. EU agencies’ reports are frequentlycited and the Europol findings are often referred to. During 2020 terrorists used variousonline platforms. These included Dark Web markets, hidden discussion groups, as well associal media platforms like TikTok. Global lockdown and health crisis affected onlinepropaganda. This research focuses on the narrative of jihadists, far-right activists and theconspiracy theories believers. The impact of CoViD-19 pandemic on extremist propagandais examined. European states’ democratic institutions were vulnerable due to CoViD-19pandemic. There were major cyber-attacks on the European states’ local and centralgovernments. The attacks on the German and American legislature are discussed andcompared. The key finding is the terrorists’ usage of online platforms and apps during 2020.Dark Web was used primarily for logistics. Social media and hidden discussion groups wereemployed for sharing propaganda and disinformation. Encrypted communicators were usedfor confident chat. This essay does not exhaust the topic of terrorists’ activities, it ratherserves as a general overview. Still more data is needed to assess full threat level of onlineterrorism.

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