UNITED NATIONS (AP) – A Microsoft executive told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that “there is no silver bullet that will stop terrorist use of the Internet.”
Steven A. Crown, vice president and deputy general of Microsoft, said technology companies, states and nongovernmental organizations must work together to “address terrorist use of the internet, including creation and use of counter-narratives,” in a manner that respects privacy and free speech.
“For the internet industry, the scale of the terrorist challenge is daunting,” Crown said. “We know that there are tens of thousands terrorist internet accounts that refuse to die. As one is taken down, another quickly springs up in its place.”
Crown made his remarks at an open session of the ‘Security Council aimed at countering the narratives of terrorism. His appearance marked the first time a representative of a technology company has addressed the U.N.’s most powerful body.
The Security Council is seeking to develop a comprehensive international framework by April 30, 2017 to counter the use of narratives by the Islamic State group, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups who use the internet as a recruiting tool.