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Cyber-Terrorism and the Information Sword

Dr. Mahmoud Eid, University of Ottawa

Although there are many different concepts of “terrorism” and no one agreed-upon definition of the term to date, most would acknowledge the existence of “cyber-terrorism,” i.e., the use of information and communications technologies to facilitate any or all forms of terrorism. Individuals or groups can now use cyberspace, computers, and information technology, especially the Internet, to threaten, terrorize and cause harm to both governments and civilians. Terrorists are pioneers in using the latest technologies. In our growing era of cyber-terrorism, a cyber-terrorist can not only conduct the types of attacks that we have grown accustomed to, such as remote bombing, but are increasingly able to deliver horrific destruction at a remove. For example, it is possible, through the use of the Internet, to hack into the processing control systems of a cereal manufacturer, change the levels of iron supplement, and consequently kill the children of a nation enjoying their breakfast. Info-terrorists no longer need to enter an office or a home to steal or distort the information. Without leaving a single trace behind, info-terrorists can steal and tamper with information, create new and corrupt existing electronic files, block access to information by authorized users, and so on.
Information technology is a double-edged sword in time of terrorism. It can be used to create strategies for peaceful resolutions or it can be attacked in ways that exacerbate insecurity. Information can be accurate or distorted, true or false, complete or partial, clear or vague, simple or complicated, stored or distributed, etc. In addition, any information can be re-produced and re-created and consequently constitutes new set(s) of information—hence the relationship to Norbert Wiener’s 1947 cybernetics. There are several impediments to the comprehensive and effective flow of information during a terrorist attack, such as lack of time, lack of adequate infrastructure and information processing technologies, reduced communication between the opposing parties, and the bureaucratic politics of information processing within the governmental apparatus. Information that comes out of terrorist attacks has a different nature from that of normal situations; it has similar characteristics to those of the terrorist situation itself. Therefore, it must be searched out, produced, and dealt with differently by decision-makers (i.e., political, media, etc.); it should be accurate, clear, rational, fast, de-escalating, constructive, and responsible. This session aims at sharing both ideas and the latest experiences regarding the search, creation, processing, reproduction and attack of information in the era of cyber-terrorism.
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