Tech Against Terrorism Mentorship Programme
A free and extensive programme enabling tech companies to future-proof their processes and policies to tackle terrorist use of their services.
The Tech Against Terrorism Mentorship Programme was launched in 2018 to enable platforms to strengthen their approach to counterterrorism, whilst safeguarding human rights and the freedom of speech. The Mentorship Programme also supports tech platforms in strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms around online counterterrorism efforts and content moderation.
Since 2018, Tech Against Terrorism has mentored over 50 tech platforms to help them tackle terrorist use of their services, whilst respecting human rights and freedom of speech.
Over 50 companies have gone through Tech Against Terrorism’s Mentorship programme including:
What platforms are eligible?
Tech Against Terrorism Mentorship is available to all platforms. The platforms we have mentored are representative of the broader tech ecosystem and diverse range of online services, from small platforms run by one person to larger tech platforms with thousands of employees.
Our mentees all face different threats from terrorist and violent extremist actors attempting to exploit their services. We adapt our support to the specificities of services and threats each platform faces.
The Mentorship Programme aims to have a positive and sustainable impact on global online counterterrorism efforts, supporting resilient yet flexible online counterterrorism responses.
Principles
Our engagement in working with tech companies is underpinned by the following principles:
- Human rights and the freedom of expression: Human rights compliant practices in line with the Tech Against Terrorism Pledge.
- Rule of law: Online counterterrorism efforts and Trust & Safety practices inscribed in the rule of law and due process.
- Transparency and Accountability: In line with Tech Against Terrorism’s Guidelines on Transparency on Online Counterterrorism Efforts, all of our policy and practical advice considers how to strengthen platforms’ transparency and accountability.
- Tech platform autonomy and trust: Building trusted relationships with tech platforms is crucial. Recommendations are on an advisory basis only, and tailored to each platforms’ specificities.
Criteria
The Programme supports tech companies in building their understanding of and response to terrorist use of the internet, including by aligning with a set of core criteria:
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Content standards that explicitly prohibit the promotion of terrorism |
Regular, public data transparency |
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The ability to receive and act on reports of illegal activity or activity violating Terms of Service |
A public commitment to human rights when implementing content removal policies |
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A desire to explore new technical solutions to content and conduct challenges |
Support for expanding the capacity of civil society organisations to challenge violent extremism |
Register for access to resources on how to improve content standards and how to align them with the core criteria. These resources include:
- Content Standards Recommendations
- Defining and prohibiting terrorist content
- Transparency Reporting Recommendations
Mentorship Programme Process
Step 1 - Introductory Call
As the first step of the Mentorship Programme, we will organise an introductory call to meet with a platform, explain the Mentorship, gauge a platform’s interest, and answer any questions.
At this stage, we invite the platform to register to the Knowledge Sharing Platform and the Terrorist Content Analytics Platform
Confirm interest: We ask a platform to confirm its interest in writing before we begin Mentorship work.
Step 2 - Policy Review
An in-depth review of a platform’s Content Standards, policies, and processes as relating to counterterrorism, content moderation, transparency, and human rights, highlighting areas of strength and making recommendations on places for improvement.
All recommendations are made on an entirely advisory basis. Each review is bespoke and tailored to a platform’s specificities.
Step 3 - Content Moderation-Focused Call
Whilst the review is mostly based on publicly available information, we also ask a platform for a ‘content moderation-focused’ call. Ahead of time, our team will send a platform some question about its counterterrorism and content moderation policies and processes.
This is to help inform our review and recommendations for a platform, to help make them as useful and actionable as possible.
Step 4 - OSINT Assessment
TAT also conducts and OSINT investigation to assess the TVE threat to the platform. This covers Islamist and far-right TVE actors, COMO avoidance strategies, and practical recommendations for TVE detection.
Step 5 - Human Rights Assessment
TAT conducts a human rights assessment on the platform’s online counterterrorism policies and practices.
Step 6 - Policy Updates
TAT and the mentee regularly meet / check-in to discuss how to implement any recommendations and policy changes.
Step 7 - Final Assessment and Membership
When all criteria is fulfilled, TAT conducts a final assessment of the platform’s alignment with the core criteria.
If all criteria is fulfilled, the platform is given the Tech Against Terrorism Trustmark
Additional support
In addition to the support outlined above, we also offer extra support to platforms that express their interest, such as:
Transparency support: one-to-one sessions on transparency reporting, advice on core metrics for inclusion in reports, reviews of reports (drafts or published)
Internal policies: review and one-to-one sessions discussing internal policies related to human rights, content moderation, and counterterrorism.
Timeline
We understand that policy change can take time. The Mentorship Programme is conducted to a platform’s own timeline. Some platforms have completed the Mentorship Programme within weeks, whilst others have been in the Programme for months.
Testimonials
TikTok, we believe that collaboration is critical to solving today’s most pressing challenges, including violent extremism. We are proud to be members of Tech Against Terrorism. Coming together with others in the industry reflects our desire to engage with the wider community of experts in a responsible way. Our aim is to help eradicate terrorist content online and share learnings with others along the way.”
TikTok
“We are honoured to be part of Tech Against Terrorism. By joining this organisation, Zoom furthers its commitment to fostering trust, safety, and respect for its users, while supporting the free exchange of thoughts and ideas. Together, we look forward to achieving our shared goals of combatting the use of technology for terrorist acts and making the internet a safer space.”
Zoom
“Niantic is honoured to become an official member of Tech Against Terrorism. We are committed to providing enjoyable, yet safe experiences for our Players and becoming a member will help us further this goal. We look forward to working with Tech Against Terrorism and our peers to create a safer internet for everyone.”
Niantic
“Tech Against Terrorism’s collaboration with technology platforms to tackle terrorist activity online and offline is more important than ever before”, “This partnership will help advance our shared vision of a safer internet for everyone.”