Introduction
This page shares the annual themes and outputs of GIFCT working groups. In July 2020, GIFCT launched a series of working groups to focus on critical themes related to countering terrorism and violent extremism online. Working groups bring together experts from diverse stakeholder groups, geographies and disciplines to offer advice in specific thematic areas and deliver on targeted, substantive projects. Each year working groups are refreshed to update themes and focus areas and to allow new participants to join. Participants work with GIFCT to prepare strategic work plans, outlining objectives, goals, strategies, deliverables, and timelines.
Technical Approaches: Tooling, Algorithms & Artificial Intelligence
2021 Working Group Output
From August 2021 to July 2022, the Technical Approaches: Tooling, Algorithms & Artificial Intelligence working group is considering some of the following questions:
- What technical solutions can be used to prevent/mitigate unintended consequences of algorithms and AI?
- How can tooling and tactics be implemented for smaller platforms?
- What technical approaches beyond photo/video hashing can be used to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms, including within recommendation features?
- What technical safeguards, oversight, and best-practices are needed to ensure safety by design and protection of human rights while member companies carry out tools-based internal operations?
Transparency: Best Practices & Implementation
2021 Working Group Output
From August 2021 to July 2022 the working group on Transparency: Best Practices and Implementation will consider some of the following questions:
- What other sectors can we look to for best practices on transparency reporting and communication to key stakeholders?
- What are frameworks and examples of algorithmic transparency that can help guide the tech community?
- What are the key barriers for tech companies in sharing API access or meaningful data with researchers?
- What further support can be given to platforms approaching their first transparency report?
This year, The Crisis Response and Incident Protocols working group is reviewing the roles and expectations of different sectors, global protocols, and amongst individual technology companies and governments when responding to an incident while ensuring protocols are protecting human rights. The working group will further work on some of the following questions:
- What are best practices to ensure refinement and readiness of different global protocols (Eg. Christchurch Call, GIFCT, European Union) and other domestic law enforcement protocols?
- What is the role of each sector and network within the different incident response protocols?
- Where can GIFCT further facilitate crisis response and where is it up to individual companies and law enforcement entities?
- What is the impact of these protocols on human rights and how can we ensure that they are appropriately balanced and protected?
Positive Interventions and Strategic Communications
2021 Working Group Output
The Positive Interventions & Strategic Communications working group is evaluating some of the following questions:
- How best can we turn passive counter-narrative exposure into active strategic communications in order to facilitate disengagement?
- What newer and smaller platforms are available to launch positive interventions in order to reach target audiences?
- How do we upscale and optimize global public-private partnerships between platforms and NGOs developing intervention campaigns?
- Where can positive interventions become more automated or proactively surfaced across platforms based on user behaviour or signals?
From August 2021 to July 2022, the Legal Frameworks working group is furthering efforts on some of the following questions:
- What barriers are tech companies facing in increasing API access to data for researchers?
- What are the intellectual property barriers in considerations for “algorithmic transparency”?
- Where do we see legal regulations and policies in different parts of the world that are posing challenges for tech companies in solving for privacy versus security?
- Where can we provide better guidance for smaller companies looking to innovate while also complying with increasing regulation?
From August 2020 to July 2021, the Academic and Practical Research working group explored innovative, multi-sector research collaborations and developing baseline best practices for conducting, funding, and supporting research that addresses the nexus of technology and violent extremism. The group produced a paper on Research Needs to Prevent and Respond to Terrorist and Violent Extremist Activity Online as well as a comprehensive white paper on Extremism Research Horizons.