Policy Brief 4 minutes ago
Terrorism is known to be centered on intent to cause widespread panic or harm. Despite lacking a universal legal definition, it is commonly understood as acts of violence or threats designed to instill fear, coerce governments or populations, and advance ideological or political goals. In the context of evolving technologies, this definition expands to encompass tech-enabled methods that amplify scale, precision, or remoteness without altering the fundamental elements of criminal intent and public endangerment. Distinguishing traditional from tech-enabled threats highlights how technology shifts delivery but preserves the coercive purpose. Understanding the nexus between terrorism and technology is crucial because terrorists increasingly exploit emerging tools like AI, drones, and encryption to enhance recruitment, planning, attacks, and financing, outpacing traditional countermeasures. This intersection also fuels the crime-terror nexus, where technologies enable hybrid threats through illicit networks and resource sharing.
