Tech Against Terrorism

Tech Against Terrorism
Tech Against Terrorism

Want to learn more about how terrorists and violent extremists are using the internet to communicate and share propaganda? Perhaps you’re interested in why terrorists share their manifestos online and livestream their attacks? The Tech Against Terrorism podcast is a deep dive into the evolving use of the internet by terrorists and violent extremists, how this relates to real world harms, and what can be done to support the tech sector to disrupt this threat. Join us as we speak to the world’s leading experts in this field and uncover everything from the online propaganda behind an IS prison break in Syria, to the online network of neo-Nazis behind a foiled terrorist plot in Texas.

  1. JUN 12

    Accelerationism: From Online Subcultures to Real-World Violence

    Accelerationism is no longer a fringe theory - it’s become a dangerous ideological driver behind a growing number of real-world terrorist attacks. Rooted in the belief that societal collapse should be sped up to bring new world order, this radical worldview has been adopted by extremists across the spectrum - from the far-right to violent anarchists. In this episode, host Lucas Webber is joined by Ben Makuch, national security reporter and contributor to The Guardian and Peter Smith, an independent researcher and journalist with the Canadian Anti Hate Network. They unpack where accelerationist narratives started, and how the rise of the digital age has helped spread them. They also examine why this ideology appeals to violent actors - and the challenges law enforcement faces in countering the threat. 🎧 Listen to learn:  ➡︎ What accelerationism is, and how it has evolved over time.  ➡︎ How extremist communities are using this ideology to justify real-world violence.  ➡︎ The role of memes, manifestos, and online subcultures in spreading  accelerationist ideas.  ➡︎ The challenges in tackling the threat of accelerationism.  📱Connect with Ben Makuch and Peter Smith. ⚡Follow Tech Against Terrorism on Bluesky and LinkedIn.  🌐Check out the Tech Against Terrorism website. 💬 Connect with our host, Lucas Webber.  📄 Read a full transcript of this episode here.   🎙️ An OG Podcasts Ltd production.

    38 min
  2. MAY 15

    Blueprints for Violence: How Extremists Are Weaponising 3D Printing

    Once a revolutionary manufacturing innovation, 3D printing has become a double-edged sword. While the technology is driving progress across sectors like medicine and aerospace, it’s also being exploited to produce untraceable, homemade firearms. In this episode, host Lucas Webber is joined by Yannick Veilleux-Lepage, Assistant Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and a leading expert on the intersection of terrorism and emerging technologies. Together, they explore how 3D-printed weapons are being used by extremist actors, how online communities are spreading firearm blueprints, and why policymakers are struggling to respond to this growing security challenge. 🎧 Listen to learn:  ➡︎ Why 3D printing has become so attractive to extremists.  ➡︎ How online communities are facilitating the global spread of 3D-printed firearm designs.  ➡︎ The different types of 3D-printed weapons in circulation.  ➡︎ What governments and platforms can do to mitigate this evolving threat. 📱Connect with Yannick Veilleux-Lepage.  📚Read Yannick’s latest research Printing Terror: An Empirical Overview of the Use of 3D-Printed Firearms by Right-Wing Extremists ⚡Follow Tech Against Terrorism on Bluesky and LinkedIn.  🌐Check out the Tech Against Terrorism website. 💬 Connect with our host, Lucas Webber.  📄 Read a full transcript of this episode here.   🎙️ An OG Podcasts Ltd production.

    42 min
  3. MAR 13

    The Dark Side of Drone Tech: How Extremists Are Exploiting UAVs

    Unmanned aerial vehicles - better known as drones - are transforming modern warfare. As the technology becomes more accessible to the general public, it also becomes easier for bad actors to exploit.  From surveillance and reconnaissance to weaponised drone attacks, extremist groups are increasingly using this technology to enhance their operational capabilities. In this episode of the Tech Against Terrorism podcast, host Lucas Webber speaks to Don Rassler, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Combating Terrorism Center at the US Military Academy at West Point. Together, they discuss how drones are being leveraged by terrorist organisations, the evolving threat landscape, and the countermeasures being developed to mitigate these risks. The views expressed by the guest in this podcast are his and do not necessarily reflect those of the Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government. 🎧 Listen to learn: ➡︎ How terrorist groups are acquiring and adapting drone technology ➡︎ The tactical advantages drones offer to extremist organisations ➡︎ How governments are responding to this emerging threat ➡︎ The future of drone warfare in terrorist operations 📱 Connect with Don Rassler. 📚Learn more about the Combating Terrorism Center here. ⚡Follow Tech Against Terrorism on Bluesky and LinkedIn.  🌐Check out the Tech Against Terrorism website. 💬 Connect with our host, Lucas Webber.  📄 Read a full transcript of this episode here. 🎙️ An OG Podcasts Ltd production.

    40 min
  4. FEB 20

    Game On: How Simulations are Enhancing Counter-Terrorism Responses

    Video games are increasingly being leveraged as powerful tools in the fight against extremism. Counter-terrorism practitioners are using these "serious games" to enhance critical thinking and decision-making by immersing participants in realistic scenarios that mirror real-world security challenges. In this episode of the Tech Against Terrorism podcast, host Lucas Webber is joined by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Founder & CEO of Valens Games and an internationally recognised expert on political violence, alongside Eleanor Ross, Director of Game Design at Valens Games. Together, they discuss how immersive wargames and AI-driven narrative simulations are shaping the future of intelligence and counter-terrorism training. 🎧 Listen to learn: ➡︎ About the intersection of gaming and counter-terrorism ➡︎ How Valens Games develops simulations for practitioners ➡︎ The real-world applications of video game technology in security strategy ➡︎ The Challenges and risks associated with gamifying counter-terrorism training ➡︎ The role of AI and interactive storytelling in security simulations 📱Connect with Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Eleanor Ross.  📚Learn more about Valens Games here.  ⚡Follow Tech Against Terrorism on Bluesky and LinkedIn.  🌐Check out the Tech Against Terrorism website. 💬 Connect with our host, Lucas Webber.  📄 Read a full transcript of this episode here.  🎙️ An OG Podcasts Ltd production.

    34 min

Ratings & Reviews

3.4
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Want to learn more about how terrorists and violent extremists are using the internet to communicate and share propaganda? Perhaps you’re interested in why terrorists share their manifestos online and livestream their attacks? The Tech Against Terrorism podcast is a deep dive into the evolving use of the internet by terrorists and violent extremists, how this relates to real world harms, and what can be done to support the tech sector to disrupt this threat. Join us as we speak to the world’s leading experts in this field and uncover everything from the online propaganda behind an IS prison break in Syria, to the online network of neo-Nazis behind a foiled terrorist plot in Texas.

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