On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Fink and Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU with the United Nations provides for close cooperation between CTED and GIFCT in technical areas set forth in United Nations Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism, especially those which address the misuse of information and communications technologies (ICT) and other emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, such as recruitment and incitement to commit terrorist acts, as well as the financing planning and preparation of their activities.
GIFCT Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Fink and ASG Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of CTED
The UN Security Council has recognized GIFCT for playing a leading role in fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, particularly in facilitating dialogue between governments and global technology platforms. The signing of this most recent MoU marks the next maturation of this close strategic relationship between GIFCT and the Security Council. As the threat landscape continues to evolve and terrorists and violent extremists seek new opportunities to exploit digital technologies, this refreshed cooperative agreement demonstrates a renewed commitment to cooperation in areas of research and activity related to strategic, political, technical, legal, institutional, and security issues concerning ICT and counter terrorism.
GIFCT remains committed to strengthening its relationships with key partners across various sectors and is a member of the CTED-led Global Research Network (GRN), further enhancing collaboration and interoperability.
During their meeting, Executive Director Chowdhury Fink and ASG Gherman discussed the importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation between States, the private sector, and civil society to develop and implement more effective means to prevent and counter harmful use of ICT. They also discussed the upcoming event to be co-hosted by GIFCT and CTED on the margins of the opening of the 80th UN General Assembly session. The event will examine the shifting landscape of terrorism and violent extremism, and how the once-siloed harms of terrorism and child exploitation are now converging both on and offline. The event will examine lessons learned and good practices, and foster greater cross-regional and cross-sectoral collaboration to prevent terrorists from exploiting digital platforms and target youth.
GIFCT is grateful to ASG Gherman and CTED for their continued engagement and partnership.
