Radicalisation and cybercrime remain challenges in the EU

Radicalisation and cybercrime remain challenges in the EU

In France, for example, Facebook took action against over 30,000 fake accounts just days ahead of the last country's presidential election. Pressure on Social Media sites including Twitter, Google's YouTube and Facebook intensified in the run-up to the elections, before in France and now in Germany.

Digital social networks are the most important battlefield for information warfare. Alex Stamos says that cibersecurity professionals need to do more to protect average Internet users from bad actors and to get success that will require 'more empathy'. They have a real inability to put themselves in the shoes of the people they are supposed to protect and things are getting worse.

According to some foreign government agencies, the Kremlin interfered with the US election to help Trump win. According to the European External Action Service (EEAS), we attend a similar campaign in Europe to promote far-right, nationalist parties and undermine the EU.

In the meantime, the EU is driving work to share information, combat terrorist financing and protect Europeans online. The 9th Security Union progress report, published yesterday, highlights the recent steps taken to prevent terrorist financing through trafficking in cultural goods and improve the interoperability of EU information systems.

However, based on a comprehensive assessment of EU security policy since 2001, the report also highlights the remaining gaps and challenges to be addressed. Incomplete implementation of existing policies remains a challenge, as do evolving threats such as radicalisation and cybercrime — which may require changes to existing instruments.

Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, considers that "in this rapidly changing security environment, we must intensify our efforts to deliver on all essential elements and work swiftly to achieve a genuine and effective Security Union. Fragmentation makes us all vulnerable. Unity and trust by enhancing cooperation and facilitating information exchange between our Member States is the only way for the EU to bring concrete added value and ensure the security and safety of European citizens."

As for Julian King, Commissioner for the Security Union, stated: "the Comprehensive Assessment fulfils a commitment I gave to the European Parliament to carry out a thorough review of the EU's security policy – the first in 16 years. There are some important lessons, including the need for greater agility to respond to the evolving threat landscape. There will be an opportunity to discuss with Parliament in September."

The Union's document shows that steady progress has been made in recent months, notably with new rules on trafficking in cultural goods proposed in July 2017, and agreement reached on a new Entry/Exit system to register entry and exit data of non-EU nationals crossing the EU's external borders.

Work on countering radicalisation on the internet has been stepped up with an action plan of new measures set out to detect and remove illegal terrorist content online. A renewed focus on soft target protection also saw Belgian and Dutch Special Forces simulate synchronised terrorist attacks on public schools. Supported by the Commission, the drill exercise provided valuable lessons on preparedness.

Current challenges and gaps in EU Security include the need to adjust existing policies and tools to respond to the evolving threat posed by terrorism, as also highlighted by the European Council and the G20 Action Plan on Countering Terrorism.

The Commission has stated that for addressing challenges and gaps, it will continue to take action by supporting the full implementation of EU measures, reducing the complexity of EU instruments and strengthening interoperability, building up capacity by pooling resources and addressing evolving threats.