Combating Terrorist Use of the Internet and Social Media: Recommended Solutions within the Scope of International Law

Combating terrorism has become a critical international issue. Terrorist groups now benefit from the opportunities offered by the Internet and social media, utilizing online resources to command, control, and communicate with their networks, and to shape their narratives in ways that speak to public concerns and attract new recruits. Thus far, the international community has developed legal instruments that offer solutions to the problem of Internet and social media use by terrorist groups. Such efforts are being led by the United Nations (UN), the European Council, and the European Union (EU). However, the creation of legal regulations faces difficulties due to the rapid development of novel Internet and social media features. Finding a fair balance between regulations and the protection of individual rights, and in particular, freedom of expression, is difficult. Therefore, most of the debate revolving around this issue centers on finding a balance between the imperative to combat terrorist use of the Internet and social media and the protection of freedom of expression. This article discusses the boundary between state responsibility to combat terrorist content online and the obligation to respect and protect human rights. The article begins by emphasizing the reality of the proliferation of terrorist propaganda online and then expounds the main concepts relating to terrorist group use of the Internet and social media. International regulations and the decisions of international legal bodies pertaining to the proliferation of terrorist content online are then examined. In conclusion, critical issues and solutions offered to combat terrorist use of the Internet and social media are propounded.