CYBER TERRORISM
When is a group classified as a terrorist and when is the online activity defined as terrorism? Dr Tine Munk, lecturer in Criminology at Middlesex University’s School of Law, discusses
CYBER TERRORISM: DEFINITIONAL PROBLEMS C
yber terrorism is an emerging problem. Defining and categorising a diverse set of politically-motivated online crimes is a complicated task. New means and methods are constantly developed and tested to reach a political, ideological or religious goal. It is only their imagination and technological capabilities that limit their activities. In recent years, various political groupings have expanded their online presence. However, the use of cyber space and computer technologies to promote politicallymotivated crimes and past events has not prompted policymakers to define the area and identify precisely what cyber terrorism is
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and what distinguishes this area from other types of politically-motivated cyber crime. Cyber terrorism is included in the UK Terrorism Act 2000, and other UK counter terrorism legislation and strategies have extended the scope. The CONTEST strategy and the Prevent strand consists of a conceptualisation of groups that falls under the terrorism definitions, i.e. international terrorism, Northern Ireland-related terrorism, extreme right-wing terrorism and other types of terrorism which can be both religious or political. The current legislation is clear about proscribed terrorist groups, such as E
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