Launch of GIFCT Working Groups

Launch of GIFCT Working Groups
24 April 2020 GIFCT
In News

Last year, we announced that the GIFCT would become an independent organization, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and headed by an Executive Director. As the establishment of this new organizational structure continues, the GIFCT remains committed to preventing the spread of terrorism and violent extremism across digital platforms.

Along with an industry-led Operating Board, an Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) and a broad Multi-stakeholder Forum, the GIFCT will include a set of working groups, which will offer advice in specific thematic areas and deliver on targeted, substantive projects.

Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of the following priority working groups, through which this programmatic work of the GIFCT will continue:

  • Crisis Response: promoting collaboration across industry, government and first-responders to minimize the spread of terrorist or violent extremist content online stemming from a real-world attack
  • Legal Frameworks: understanding the challenges and constraints of existing legal frameworks; incorporating the risks and opportunities of greater data-sharing; and identifying opportunities for clarification and reform
  • Transparency: developing best practices that facilitate greater transparency from all relevant stakeholders while respecting privacy and human rights
  • Technical Approaches: supporting the development and adoption of technological solutions to prevent and disrupt the spread of terrorist content online
  • “Algorithmic Outcomes”: building collaboration and dialogue across industry, government and civil society about industry’s use of automation and content recommendation processes
  • Academic and Practical Research: better understanding how terrorists use technology, including through the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), the academic research arm of the GIFCT

Going forward, these working groups will prepare their strategic workplans, which will outline their respective objectives, goals, strategies, deliverables, metrics and timelines.

Our target size for manageable, individual working groups is between 15 and 20 people coming from diverse stakeholder groups, geographies and disciplines. We also encourage a sub-working group structure to invite additional participation and to advance discrete projects.

If you would like to become part of these working groups, kindly direct expressions of interest to [email protected].