Social media allows terrorism to do studies about societies: Security expert

CAIRO – 5 November 2018: Terrorism greatly benefits from social media as it gives its agents an opportunity to do studies about societies and set their schemes accordingly; hence, social media poses a great burden on intelligence and security bodies, Khaled Okasha, security affairs expert, said on Nov. 5.

This announcement came during the 2018 World Youth Forum’s session, titled “Social Media: Saving or enslaving users?" and held under the auspices of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

Okasha remarked that terrorism recruits people through social media, adding that security bodies are setting plans to face this phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Fatima al-Zahraa Abdel-Fattah, lecturer of Journalism and Digital Media at Al-Ahram University, said that fake news spreads across social media, a phenomenon which heightens in times of crises.

She remarked that 21,000 rumors spread in Egypt in only three months, pointing out that fake news has been developed greatly as they now spread through fake accounts and identity fraud.

She added that to solve that problem media has to be improved to be the first and most trusted news source and journalists should be trained to use their platforms properly and spread only the correct news.

CEO of Sweden's Internet Addiction Center Patrick Vincent said that 300 studies have been carried out, showing the negative impact of social media. Modern technology, including social networking websites, negatively affects people's social life, he added.

“We need to recognize that there is an intentional economy that is meant to steal your intention (through social media)… Hence, we need to pay attention to our intention,” he concluded.

German Advisor on Cyber Security Marco Gercke said that there are major negative impacts of social media use but there is also a positive aspect of social media as a means of communication.

Additionally, Founder and CEO of Skills Camp from Canada Bailey Parnell said that social media has a great impact on the mental health of people, affirming that social websites have positive and negative impacts.

During the session, President Sisi recommended forming a national research committee to set a strategy to deal with social media sites in the session.

“Social media outlets must be used positively and developed countries must deal with social media challenges in a way that does not affect the security and stability of other countries.”

Sisi stated that he belongs to an older generation, who lived a stage of their lives without television, stressing that internet is a sign of human development and that ways to increase its positive impacts and decrease its disadvantages should be discussed.

The president asserted that any trial to fight social media sites will not be successful
“In 2010, I delivered a speech, saying that the development of social media will have a dangerous effect on Egypt and the Arab region in general and that’s what proved to be true later; the country was not ready to face its dangers,” Sisi said.

Sisi explained that “Rumors have always existed throughout the world but currently means of spreading rumors developed.”