New Delhi will host a two-day conference on August 21-22, organized by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the Global Counter-Terrorism Council (GCTC) and the Ministry of External Affairs, focusing on current and emerging threats of online radicalization.
The conference aims to facilitate discussions and partnerships between experts, policymakers, academia, and law enforcement officials from South Asia and Europe, who are actively involved in the fight against digital extremism.
Key outcomes are expected to include strategies for addressing the complex issues arising from the intersection of technology and terrorism, and identifying potential areas for collaboration between the EU, India, and the broader region to combat violent extremism in the digital space.
This conference is part of a series of ongoing counterterrorism engagements between the EU and India, building on prior events focused on combating drone terrorism, cybersecurity, misinformation, disinformation, and women's peace and security.
India and the EU will be represented by senior officials and experts from their respective institutions, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Army, police, EU institutions, EU Member States, and agencies such as Frontex and Europol.
The conference also highlights the EU's proactive approach in combating these threats, with a focus on the Terrorist Content Online (TCO) Regulation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the recently established EU platform on illicit content online (PERCI).
Both the EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, and KD Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing the challenges of terrorism and online radicalization.
The EU's experience in regulating social media companies and internet providers, with a strong focus on human rights, will be shared. India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and commitment to combating cross-border terrorism and extremism were also underlined.
The conference marks a significant step in enhancing counter-terrorism dialogues and partnerships in the region, consistent with the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy, which focuses on deeper engagement with partners facing common challenges. It is anticipated that this collaborative effort will contribute to more effective strategies in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism in the digital sphere.
