Trend Terrorism threat to the UK evolving and exploiting technology

Summary

The report sees the UK as facing a lasting and complex terrorist threat from a range of ideological and geographical sources, chiefly religious and extreme right-wing terrorism. This threat is increasingly organised through online communities, while extreme left-wing, anarchist and anti-government extremism are judged to be much smaller threats. Technology is both an opportunity and a risk for counter-terrorism, since all four CONTEST pillars of Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare depend on it, yet the internet can also enable radicalisation. Terrorist groups may use AI to gain capabilities that were once out of reach, such as boosting cyber attacks, running disinformation campaigns and aiding biological weapon design. The report also cites evidence that the spread of extreme violent material online is speeding up self-radicalisation, including among people drawn to violence without a clear ideology.