Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs: Metamorphosis Terrorism Threats Take Advantage Of Cyberspace

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Polkam) Budi Gunawan reminded that currently the threat of terrorism with metamorphosis is more sophisticated by utilizing various cyberspaces to spread their understanding globally.

"Even though the terror cells seem to be sleeping at this time, from the results of my experience of serving in the intelligence world, terrorism is now increasingly metamorphic," Budi said at the BNPT CT/VE Outlook 2024 I-KHUB Publication Ceremony and the Komstra PE Roadmap in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 3.

According to him, the terror groups used cyberspace that was difficult to detect, such as using the Dark Web to carry out various propaganda and their attacks and using artificial intelligence (AI) to outwit surveillance from law enforcement officials.

The Coordinating Minister said this had been predicted since 1997. At that time, one of the Directors of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said cyberspace threats were weapons of mass destruction that were as dangerous as nuclear bomb attacks.

Therefore, he highly appreciates and welcomes the initiative of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) for the launch of annual research focusing on assessing the risks of cyberspace abuse for violent-based extremism activities that lead to terrorism and the Roadmap for Strategic Communication Prevention and Combating Violent Extremism Based on Terrorism (Komstra PE).

The launch, said Budi, emphasized the government's commitment to continuously protecting the public from the threat of terrorism, especially in cyberspace.

"I once again really appreciate the consistency of BNPT with all relevant stakeholders to continue to update this research, which was previously launched in 2023 and of course continues," he said.

In order to continue to be relevant, BG hopes that the substance of the research substance needs to be continuously updated by utilizing artificial intelligence and visualization to attract and facilitate stakeholders in understanding the experience of BNPT in the field.

The presence of these research results, according to him, is a very important guideline and reference for BNPT and all relevant ministries/institutions to take policies in dealing with the threat of terrorism in cyberspace together.

However, Budi still asked all heads of ministries/agencies and communities to strengthen synergies and collaborations to prevent misuse of cyberspace from the threat of terrorism and strengthen the capacity of all stakeholders to increase national vigilance.

In addition, he also hopes that various narratives against propaganda and counter narratives based on creative technology can continue to be intensified, adopt and implement the Komstra PE roadmap, as well as all ministries/agencies involved in counter-terrorism efforts can continue to be present to provide security guarantees to the public, both in real spaces and in cyberspaces.