THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL

POLICE ORGANIZATION:
Policing Online Spaces

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS

MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
2022

General Assembly Background Guide

 Table of Contents

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Letter from the Secretary-General……………………………………………………………………………2
Letter from the Under Secretary-General……………………………………………………..…………. 3
Chair Letters…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Sensitivity Statement…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Committee Specific Rules of Procedure…………………………………………………………………….7
INTERPOL…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Topic A: Addressing Online Radicalization and Terrorism………………………….. 9
Key Terms……………………………………………………………………………………………………9
Background……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Past International Action……………………………………………………………………………. 16
Concluding Remarks………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Bloc Positions……………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
Questions to Consider…………………………………………………………………………………20
Topic B: Disrupting Criminal Activity on the Dark Web………………………………21
Key Terms……………………………………………………………………………………………….…21
Background………………………………………………………………………………………………. 21
Recent Developments………………………………………………………………………………… 24
Past International Action…………………………………………………………………………….25
Bloc Positions……………………………………………………………………………………………. 27
Questions to Consider…………………………………………………………………………………28

COCMUN 2022 1
 Letter from the Secretary-General

Welcome, Esteemed Delegates!

My name is Samantha Dalton and it is my absolute honor and privilege to serve

as your Secretary-General for COCMUN 2022, and furthermore to present you with this
fantasmic conference!

A little about me, I am a sophomore in my last semester at College of the Canyons

dual-majoring in Political Science and Legal Studies. Additionally, I am the Head
Delegate of COC’s very own Model United Nations Team as well as a member of a
number of clubs and organizations on campus such as the Associated Student
Government and Political Science Club. Outside of academia and its relatives, I enjoy
traveling, reading, and spending time with those that mean the most to me. Amongst
these things, I can say that it has truly been a wonderfully crazy experience working with
such a talented and ideologically diverse group of individuals in order to ensure that not
only we would host this conference but host it in an in-person medium after many long
months of Zoom fatigue.

I am truly excited to see the creative solutions delegates will develop and debate
over the course of this two-day conference while partaking in the litany of committees
presented at COCMUN this spring. With topics ranging from online extremism within
the political realm, the everchanging future of Russian-Ukrainian bonds, and an armed
conflict fought in a galaxy far far away, this conference is promised to be the best one
College of the Canyons has hosted yet. In closing, I would like to take a moment to
express a huge thank you to all of our conference attendees for continuing to support
our wonderful program, be our guest!

Kindest Regards,

Samantha Dalton, Secretary-General

COCMUN, Spring 2022
[email protected]

COCMUN 2022 2
 Letter from the Under Secretary-General

To all Delegates,

Welcome to COCMUN 2022! After two long years, we can finally welcome all
delegations back to the grounds of College of the Canyons to form part of our small, yet
richly-developed conference; It is my distinct pleasure to serve as your
Under-Secretary-General for the following two days.

Our exciting lineup of committees offers a host of topics that will be sure to light
up the debate floor for the following days from the depraved depths of online crime, to
the evolving Russia-Ukraine conflict, and finally, a civil war raging in a galaxy far, far
away. There is no doubt in our mind that this weekend will serve as a platform for
exciting discussions and solutions in our General Assembly and Specialized Body, as
well as dramatic twists and turns in our crisis committee: Anything and everything can
happen in the following days.

At its core, our Model UN program is built on emphasizing diplomacy and

collaboration; Similarly, a key aspect of any conference is the relationships built among
members of the committee as a way to resolve the issues presented to them. We strongly
believe that our conference will be able to give our visiting delegates, as well as our staff,
an opportunity to expand those connections and build those relationships through the
highs and lows of the debate floor.

All the best and good luck,

Diego Staben, Under-Secretary-General

COCMUN, Spring 2022
[email protected]

COCMUN 2022 3
 A Letter from the Chair

Honorable Delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to COCMUN 2022! It is my honor to staff

such an amazing committee after being online for so long. My name is Amanda Marquez
and I am ecstatic to announce that I will be your Chair for the General Assembly
Committee! I am currently a freshman at College of the Canyons majoring in Political
Science. The recent uprising of political and human rights movements that have
emerged, has only strengthened my passion for politics.

Throughout my time as a delegate in Model United Nations, I’ve found it to be

one of the most rewarding experiences. I know I will carry on the skills I have learned
from MUN throughout the entirety of my career. The College of the Canyons MUN
program stresses the importance of diplomacy and respect for all delegates. In this
committee, I encourage all delegates to be collaborative and make connections with each
other.

The purpose of the United Nations is to maintain peace and security within
nations throughout the world, with respect to sovereignty. It is important to address
these issues presented in committee with the underlying knowledge of the functions and
role of each committee. In order to properly model this, it is important delegates
approach the issues fairly. Nonetheless, I am excited to meet every delegate and explore
all of the creative solutions delegates come up with. Please contact me if there are any
further questions as I would love to hear from you guys and make lifelong connections.
Once again, welcome to COCMUN 2022!

Best,

Amanda Marquez, Chair

INTERPOL Committee
[email protected]

COCMUN 2022 4
 A Letter from the Chair

Dear Fellow Delegates,

Welcome to COCMUN 2022! My name is Branden Bohrnsen, and I have the

distinct honor of serving as your Co-Chair for the General Assembly. I am looking
forward to these two days, where I hope to find cooperation, diplomacy, and delegates
taking charge to debate a variety of ideas and propose detailed solutions to a selection of
highly relevant topics.

I’m in my second semester here at College of the Canyons, and I intend on

transferring this semester to major in Political Science and either Data Science or
Economics. In my free time, I am a hobbyist game developer and classical pianist, and I
am deeply interested in public economics and welfare policy research. Additionally, I am
an officer in the Political Science Club, and have competed in DECA, FBLA, and YMCA
Teens & Government, where I had the chance to meet many passionate students taking
charge to build and showcase their skills, not unlike what we are sure to encounter at
COCMUN.

I am excited to meet you all, and I can assure you I will be paying the utmost
attention to delegates who have put in the work and contributed positively to the event.
We’re all here because we love this program, so let's work together, build connections,
and leave this conference as better delegates than when we entered it.

Best Wishes,

Branden Bohrnsen, Co-Chair

INTERPOL Committee
[email protected]

COCMUN 2022 5
 Sensitivity Statement

Given the nature of the topics discussed in this committee, delegates will be faced
with content that can be triggering and disturbing, including but not limited to racism,
sexism, homophobia, drug abuse, and sexual abuse.

We understand that there will be some actions taken in committee that may be
sensitive to some marginalized groups of people. In light of this, we ask that you stay
considerate and aware of any possible insensitive behaviors or speech. College of the
Canyons does not and will not tolerate any form of hate speech in the vein
of racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other type of speech rooted in
malicious intent. If delegates are found guilty of any of the aforementioned, they may
face disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the conference.

If delegates should have any issues with the topics being discussed within this
committee please contact the Secretary-General as soon as possible so that we may
address any questions or concerns delegates may have and/or allocate you to another
committee.

COCMUN 2022 6
 Committee Specific Rules of Procedure

COCMUN’s General Assembly Committee Specific Rules of Procedure can be

found within COCMUN’s Delegate Handbook located on our conference website.

COCMUN 2022 7
 INTERPOL

This International Criminal Police Organization, founded in 1923, is an

intergovernmental organization that enables communications, provides access and data
on crimes and criminals on an international level.

Boasting 195 member countries, INTERPOL connects police networks all across
the globe to collaborate and enhance the procedure and prosecution of criminal cases. It
is made up of a General Assembly, which meets once every year. The main points of
communication between the Secretariat across all nations are through an INTERPOL
National Central Bureau (NCB).

Because of the range of crime INTERPOL can cover, it divides into three
programmes that address pressing matters: Counter-Terrorism, Emerging and
Organized Crime, and Cybercrime: This committee will focus on the Cybercrime
programme. Given the rise and implementation of the Internet into the daily lives of
global citizens, it is crucial to keep a watchful eye on those who abuse its expansive
availability for malicious purposes, that be to turn average citizens into radical
extremists, or abuse concealed networks to enable the trade of illicit goods and services.

Like the General Assembly of the United Nations, INTERPOL does not have
executive powers and cannot arrest or act without the approval of each country’s
national authorities. Additionally, as it is generally with crimes, delegates need to
consider what the priority should be when it comes to addressing the issues presented to
them: Should nations prioritize prevention, action, or reformation?

COCMUN 2022 8
 Topic A: The Globalization of Online Extremism

I. Key Terms

A. Radicalization: Per the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, “[...] Refers
primarily to the process of indoctrination that often accompanies the
transformation of recruits into individuals determined to act with violence based
on extremist ideologies.”1
B. Propaganda: Multimedia communications designed to convince a group or
groups of people of a certain ideological stance through explanations,
justifications, or calls to action on a specific cause. This can be video or audio
files, presentations, articles, magazines, among other forms of media.
a. According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, what
constitutes “terrorist” propaganda is a “subjective assessment”2.
C. Stochastic Terrorism: Refers to a phenomenon where the constant
dehumanizing or demonizing of a subject or group of people can lead to violence
that is statistically likely, but cannot be easily predicted.3
D. Shitposting - The activity of posting provocative (Usually ironic and low
quality) content on social media as a means to distract, minimize, or become
inflammatory in a meaningful conversation.
E. Echo-Chambers: [In news and media] An environment in which somebody
only encounters beliefs and opinions already similar to their own, with little to no
alternative forms of thought.

II. Background Information

With its coming in the 1990s, the World Wide Web has become the prime source
of communication across the globe. The widespread appeal and accessibility of the
Internet has led its users to a diverse amount of streams of communication,
communities, and ideologies. However, despite the revolutionary advent of this
technology, an unfavorable side effect to the “age of information” is the deluge of equally

1
The Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes, The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime,
https://www.unodc.org/documents/terrorism/Publications/Use_of_Internet_for_Terrorist_Purposes/e
book_use_of_the_internet_for_terrorist_purposes.pdf
2
Ibid, 1
3
Lone Wolf Attack, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_wolf_attack

COCMUN 2022 9
accessible, radical content that has made violence bleed into the real world from the
confines of online spaces.

The presence of radicals online is not new: It simply feels a lot more present
today than it did in the past. Extremists have been using online spaces as their
recruitment hubs since before the term “World Wide Web” was even coined. Traces can
be found from all the way back to 1985, with the creation of a digital bulletin board for
the “White Aryan Resistance” as a means to facilitate communication and recruitment
tactics in the United States: This bulletin board was found in the communication
network that preceded the internet as we know it.4 Many others followed suit, including
a surge of websites run by jihadist extremists in the mid-to-early 2000s, all with the
intent to disseminate propaganda and to recruit.5 Over the course of the 2000s and
2010s, extremists continued to expand their presence online, riding the wave of
up-and-coming social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, and
other more fringe platforms (i.e. 4chan) as their direct form of engagement.

Twenty years later, the amount of websites hosting radical content has
significantly grown. For instance, in light of the COVID-19 a, over 300,000 suspicious
websites have been created, leading to a 600% increase in cyberattacks to hospitals and
facilities working on coronavirus vaccines, according to Izumu Nakamitzu, United
Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affair.6

The presence of the internet on political and societal discourse has accelerated
the process of radicalization across the board. For one, activity online is often shrouded
in anonymity, allowing people who wouldn’t be able to join extremist causes to find their
way into these radical movements. For instance, it is often considered unacceptable for

4
Hate Online: A Content Analysis of Extremist Internet Sites, Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy,
Vol. 3, 2003, http://floodhelp.uno.edu/uploads/Content%20Analysis/Gertstenfeld.pdf
5
Online Extremism: Research Trends in Internet Activism, Radicalization, and Counter-Strategies,
International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 2020,
https://www.ijcv.org/index.php/ijcv/article/view/3809/3868
6
75 for UN75: A Conversation on Rethinking Radicalization, United Nations,
https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/75-un75-conversation-rethinking-radicalization

COCMUN 2022 10
women linked to jihadist movements to meet with men who are also extremists, or join
one of their groups; This is a different story once they’re shielded by anonimity.7

Furthermore, by eliminating physical and geological barriers, leaders of radical

movements have been able to reach far and wide to create vast networks of like-minded
individuals. The interactivity of internet features ━ emails, chatrooms, social media ━
allows for creators of this propaganda and its consumers to be in relatively equal
footing, with neither of them feeling like one is above the other. By blurring the lines
between readership and authorship, those following extremist movements find it
significantly easier to feel like they are a part of the larger movement, as opposed to
passive observers of their chosen cause. Previous generations of sympathizers and
terrorists encountered this barrier, given that their main means of communication for
propaganda were found in pamphlets, newspapers, etc.8

Recruitment
Extremist propaganda and messaging is a mix of moral, political, religious,
ideological, and social narratives, originating from grievances that are sometimes rooted
in some form of reality, but are often mixed with made-up or hyperbolized concerns.9
Delivered in varying forms of media, such as videos, images, and blog posts, the ultimate
goal of these messages is to dehumanize each specific group’s perceived enemy as much
as possible, while simultaneously affirming the actions and beliefs of their users.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published a handbook on the
recruitment for radical causes. In said handbook, they outline three different
recruitment patterns employed by radical movements:

7
Radicalisation in the digital era The use of the internet in 15 cases of terrorism and extremism, RAND
Corporation, 2013,
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR400/RR453/RAND_RR453.pdf
8
American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat, Bjelopera, Jerome P., Congressional
Research Service, 2013, https://sgp.fas.org/crs/terror/R41416.pdf
9
Countering the Appeal of Extremism Online, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, 2014,
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Countering%20the%20Appeal%20of%20Extremis
m%20Online_1.pdf

COCMUN 2022 11
 1. “‘The Net’: violent extremist and terrorist groups disseminate undifferentiated
propaganda, such as video clips or messages, to a target population deemed
homogeneous and receptive to the propaganda;
2. “‘The funnel’: entails an incremental approach, to target specific individuals
considered ready for recruitment, using psychological techniques to increase
commitment and dedication. Even targeted children who resist complete
recruitment may develop positive outlooks on the group’s activities;
3. “‘Infection’: when the target population is difficult to reach, an ‘agent’ can be
inserted to pursue recruitment from within, employing direct and personal
appeals. The social bonds between the recruiter and the targets may be
strengthened by appealing to grievances, such as marginalization or social
frustration.”10

These patterns of recruitment begin with small forms of content that cater to a
generalized view of a topic. Eventually, through algorithms designed to continually cater
to the individual’s likes and dislikes, the content inevitably veers towards extreme and
harmful ideologies, driving away the original moderate intent. This phenomenon has
also been labeled as “pipelines”. Mainstream social media platforms such as Twitter,
Facebook, and YouTube have become the primary means to catapult a user’s fall into
radicalization pipelines due to their accessibility. An example of this can be seen in an
analysis of 72 million YouTube user comments, spread across 330,000 videos and 349
channels, showing that users consistently moved from milder to more extreme content,
with most of the content catering to far-right ideology.11

In addition to serving as jumping-off points, social media services also function

as a platform for extremists to boast about their “victories”. This was the case in the

10
Handbook on Children Recruited and Exploited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups: The Role
of the Justice System, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2017,
https://www.unodc.org/documents/terrorism/Publications/HB%20Children/Handbook_on_Children_
Recruited_and_Exploited_by_Terrorist_and_Violent_Extremist_Groups_the_Role_of_the_Justice_Sy
stem.E.pdf
11
Radicalization pipelines: How targeted advertising on social media drives people to extremes, The
Conversation, 12 January 2022,
https://theconversation.com/radicalization-pipelines-how-targeted-advertising-on-social-media-drives-p
eople-to-extremes-173568

COCMUN 2022 12
2013 al-Shabaab-led attacks on the
Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Coming
from the Somali-based organization
with links to al-Qaeda, the attack was
live-tweeted by leaders of al-Shabaab,
praising the actions of the aggressors
while utilizing incendiary rhetoric to
convey their message.12 Although
Twitter eventually suspended the
account, the damage was already
done. [13]

The use of memes and “shitposting” is also a way in which many involved in
radical movements hide their exploits behind the screen. While many radical groups are
overt regarding their intentions, many others hide behind the use of jokes and irony. If
policed about their beliefs, this practice allows these groups to quickly decry the
infringement upon their individual rights to self-expression.

One of the most common rhetorical tactics used by recruiters is to appeal to the
content consumer’s sense of duty, creating a victim complex and simultaneously preying
on the consumers’ sense of identity and overall purpose. Recruiters tend to frame their
cause around the idea that it is of utmost importance and amplify their calls to action as
means to “do something.”14

In addition to exposing users to their philosophies and ideologies, extremist

groups often provide their users with a sense of community and belonging. These
communities reinforce the already-held beliefs of those being radicalized and create
echo-chambers where the users’ perspectives are rarely challenged and are more often
12
Tweeting terrorism: How al Shabaab live blogged the Nairobi attacks, The Telegraph, 22 September
2013,
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/kenya/10326863/Tweeting-terrori
sm-How-al-Shabaab-live-blogged-the-Nairobi-attacks.html
13
Picture: Ibid, 12
14
Ibid, 9

COCMUN 2022 13
reinforced by others within that same community15. This further isolates the individuals
into an ideological niche, where they constantly find themselves consuming information
that satisfies and doesn’t challenge their already-held beliefs16. This is especially true
once a user has fallen deeper into a radicalization pipeline, where they have already
gained access to more fringe and niche websites that exacerbate their already loud
echo-chamber.

Factors Leading to Radicalization

According to
former
INTERPOL
Secretary-General
Ronald K. Noble,
“The advent of the
Internet has made
the process of
radicalization
easier to achieve
and the process of
combating it that
much more
difficult, because
many of the
behaviors
associated with it are not in and of themselves criminal,” a fact compounded by the

15
Ibid, 7
16
Segmenting the Electorate: The Effects of Exposure to Political Extremism Online, 10 August 2010,
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10510974.2010.497069

COCMUN 2022 14
dramatic rise of extremist websites between 1998 and 2006, rising from 12 to over 4,500
sites in the span of eight years.17 18

While there is no set path or specific attributes that can lead to radicalization,
there are certain consistencies in the radicalization process that can eventually lead to
terrorism. A study conducted by the National Institute of Justice sampled the
backgrounds of both lone-actor and group-based extremists and found that, “having a
criminal history, having mental health issues (or having received a diagnosis of
schizophrenia or delusional disorder among lone actors), being unemployed, being
single, being a loner or socially isolated, and having military experience were associated
with a higher likelihood of engaging or attempting to engage in terrorism in research
that included both group-based and lone-actor extremists, as well as in at least one
study that included only lone-actor terrorists.”19 One of the outstanding risk factors the
study concluded could inform a radicalized individual is social isolation. As mentioned
previously, radical communities often bond over their ideology and online exploits. In
seeking the validation that they lack in the real world as a result of their isolation, those
drawn to radical ideologies can find this sense of community and friendship very
valuable.20

Case Study: Christchurch

The Christchurch Mosque Shootings, perpetrated by a white nationalist in New
Zealand, was the result of online rhetoric turning into stochastic terrorism.

Reports claim that the terrorist expressed far-right beliefs from a young age,
using the message board 4chan from the young age of 14, and using the internet with
17
Preventing Internet radicalization of youth requires global police network, INTERPOL Chief tells
police summit, INTERPOL, 21 September 2010,
https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2010/Preventing-Internet-radicalization-of-youth-
requires-global-police-network-INTERPOL-Chief-tells-police-summit.
18
Picture: The Online Extremist Ecosystem, The RAND Corporation,
https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1458-1.html
19
Risk Factors and Indicators Associated With Radicalization to Terrorism in the United States: What
Research Sponsored by the National Institute of Justice Tells Us, U.S. Department of Justice, July 2018,
https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/251789.pdf
20
Propaganda, Extremism and Online Recruitment Tactics, Anti-Defamation League,
https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/table-talk/propaganda-extremism-online
-recruitment

COCMUN 2022 15
little to no supervision before that.21 The terrorist further revealed to investigators that
he frequented message boards with far-right and extremist ideals, as well as using
YouTube as source of inspiration for his eventual attack.

On the day of the attack, the terrorist emailed a 74-page manisfesto to authorities
and media outlets, which included references to alt-right conspiracy theories and
memes; The document was in turn propagated in the controversial message board
8chan.22 Message boards like 4chan and 8chan, both of which thrive with extremist
content due to their incredibly lax moderation policies, have been used as starting
points for radicalization through content such as memes, and have also been used to
publish manifestos similar to the one referenced above. In addition to this, the terrorist
livestremaed the attack on Facebook, making references to memes, far-right conspiracy
theories, and commonly-held beliefs and ideologies from far-right circles.

III. Past International Action

There is a lot of debate among scholars and policy-makers as to what constitutes

“violent extremism,” and the criteria that qualifies as such is spotty at best. Multiple
studies employed for this document, had differing ━ albeit, close ━ definitions for
what defined “radicalization” and “extremism”. This is due to the fact that radicalization
doesn’t always lead to violence or connote harmful ideologies.

Regardless, one of INTERPOL’s initiatives to prevent terrorism bred from online

extremism is by the careful analysis of social media platforms to detect witnesses of
attacks, as was the case in the London Bridge attack in the UK in 2017.23 In addition to

21
Report finds lapses ahead of New Zealand mosque attack, The Associated Press,
https://apnews.com/article/intelligence-agencies-shootings-brenton-tarrant-new-zealand-new-zealand-
mosque-attacks-d8217fa30fe4eeba45fb001b77857385
22
Jacinda Ardern's office received manifesto from Christchurch shooter minutes before attack, ABC
News, 16 March 2019,
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-17/jacinda-ardern-christchurch-shooter-manifesto-email/10909
874
23
Analyzing Social Media, INTERPOL,
https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Terrorism/Analysing-social-media

COCMUN 2022 16
this, INTERPOL has published a handbook ━ in conjunction with the UN ━ for online
counter-terrorism operations. The handbook aims to provide resources to help
investigators obtain and analyze information found online, specifically in social media,
with the intent of enhancing counter-terrorism operations.24 Additionally, the United
Nations launched the International Hub on Behavioural Insights to Counter Terrorism,
which, according to the head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrosim Vladimir Voronkov,
“[...] Will help us understand why and how people become radicalized to violence and
where we can intervene most effectively to halt the radicalization process.”25

Furthermore, individual countries have adopted their own policies and

commitments to combat online extremism and terrorism. New Zealand Prime Minister
Jacinda Ardern, for instance, adopted the “Christchurch Call,” in conjunction with
French President Emmanuel Macron as a means to deter the consequences of online
radicalism26. The Christchurch Call commits government and tech companies to develop
tools to weed out online terrorism and radicalization, increasing transparency for
content detection and removal, and reviewing algorithms that can direct users to
extremist content.27 In addition, individual states have adopted their own
counter-terrorism strategies that address radicalization online, such as the UK’s Prevent
strategy, which outlines its own definiton of “radicalization”.

Media Literacy has also been a focal point in action against online radicalism.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recommended
media literacy to be the most effective strategy in the way of preventing online

24
INTERPOL and UN publish joint handbook for online counter-terrorism investigations, INTERPOL,
11 July 2019,
https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2019/INTERPOL-and-UN-publish-joint-handbook
-for-online-counter-terrorism-investigations
25
New global hub to study factors driving radicalization and violent extremism, United Nations, 7
December 2020, https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079432
26
New Zealand PM lauds Christchurch ‘roadmap’ to combat online extremism, NBC News, 15 May 2019,
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/new-zealand-pm-jacinta-ardern-lauds-christchurch-call-roadmap-to-c
ombat-online-extremism-59692613948
27
Christchurch Call to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist online content adopted, New Zealand
Government, 16 May 2019,
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/christchurch-call-eliminate-terrorist-and-violent-extremist-online-
content-adopted

COCMUN 2022 17
radicalization and eventual terrorism.28 This approach has become especially relevant
when addressing the types of targeted content delivered by algorithms that gradually
pull online users to either side of an online extremist group. According to the Report of
the High-level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations, “Media literacy programs should be
implemented in schools, particularly at the secondary level [...] to promote media
awareness and development of Internet literacy to combat misperceptions, prejudices
and hate speech.”29

IV. Concluding Remarks

Online radicalization is ━ arguably ━ significantly more dangerous than past

methods of radicalization due to the vast openness and generally unfiltered nature of the
internet and online spaces. While most nations will agree on the importance of
addressing and shutting down this issue, it will ultimately come down to which
approaches should be prioritized to most effectively deal with the issue at hand.

In addition to this, many of those involved in extremist movements will perceive

any actions to shut down their activities as an infringement of their individual privacy
and self-expression, that be religious or personal beliefs. While there are legislative
documents that rule speech that can lead to violence can be penalized, Delegates need to
be aware of the tactics extremists use to disguise their content as inconsequential (i.e.
“Shitposting”).

Additionally, delegates need to be wary of their own norms and customs: What
may be considered radical in one region, may be considered moderate or the standard in
another. Furthermore, acts of terrorism are rare and sporadic. They can affect any
region of the world, with equally tragic consequences, regardless of socio-economic

28
UNESCO addresses youth radicalization and online hate speech at Nice conference, United Nations,
https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2017/02/unesco-addresses-youth-radicalization-online-hate-speech-nic
e-conference/
29
Media and Information Literacy as a Means of Preventing Violent Extremism, UN Chronicle,
https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/media-and-information-literacy-means-preventing-violent-extr
emism

COCMUN 2022 18
standing on the global scale. However, extremist factions can be most prominently
found in developing or war-torn nations. While extremist movements still exist within
developed nations, they are much more well-hidden and less present on a day-to-day
basis.

V. Bloc Positions

The general consensus on the proliferation of online extremism remains fairly

universal at all points. However, member states need to be aware of their standing on
the geopolitical scale and how that affects the progress of radicals in their own country.
In the end, it is a matter of what the priority should be when addressing this topic:
Should it be prevention? Or should it be immediate action?

Developed Countries

For the most part, countries with strong infrastructures and communication
networks are not at immediate risk. However, these countries need to remain mindful
and aware of the possibility of stochastic terrorism, as these are the countries where
terrorist attacks are least expected to happen. For this reason, countries in this bloc
need to prioritize prevention and focus on those at risk, and reform those that have
fallen down the pipeline. Additionally, given that these countries have the resources to
keep track of extremist movements within their own populations, this bloc needs to be
extra vigilant about how these radicals conceal themselves and their activities.

Developing Countries

Developing countries find themselves being highly susceptible to not only violent
attacks but also the constant threat of growing numbers within the ranks of extremist
organizations. Countries in conflict or with larger radical presences, like Middle Eastern
countries, are especially susceptible due to existing and established radical movements.

COCMUN 2022 19
Delegates representing developing countries will need to focus on disrupting these
movements head-on.

VI. Questions to Consider

1. Given the nebulous nature of some online behavior, how can nations track and
prevent online radicalization while taking into account benign statements?
2. Should the priority of preventative measures lie on the prevention of further
individual radicalization, or on the dismantling of larger online spaces that allow
for the exposure of extremist ideas?
3. What measures can be taken to slow down the online growth of extremist
organizations in nations that have not yet been largely impacted by radical
terrorism?
4. How can nations work with the private sector and large social media corporations
to combat the growth of extremism?
5. What can be done to rehabilitate those who have fallen down extremist pipelines?
6. Can nations find a concrete meaning and criteria to extremism, while
acknowledging that what is considered “extreme” can vary among nations and
cultures?

COCMUN 2022 20
 Topic B: Disrupting Criminal Activity on the Dark Web

I. Key Terms

A. Layers of the Internet:30

a. Surface Web: Made up of publicly accessible pages of information that
can be accessed through search engines and connected through each other
using hyperlinks.
b. Deep Web: Sections of the internet intentionally walled off from public
view, and cannot be accessed through search engines.
i. E.g. Paywalls, email inboxes, intranets, banking services.
c. Dark Web - Per RAND Corporation, “the portion of the internet that uses
both encryption and anonymizing communication technologies, which are
designed to promote anonymity and frustrate organized tracking efforts.”
B. TOR: Short for “The Onion Router,” a free and open-source software that
enables anonymous communication; The most common tool used to access the
dark web.
C. Cryptocurrency: A decentralized form of digital currency.
a. Altcoin: Alternatives to Bitcoin.
D. Malware: Refers to any type of malicious software that is designed to exploit or
harm any type of programmable device, network, or software.

II. Background Information

On a day-to-day basis, the average user of the internet only sees one side of the
expansive network, that being the surface web. However, while it might seem like the
vast majority of the internet is the surface web, it really only makes up about 0.03% of

30
Identifying Law Enforcement Needs for Conducting Criminal Investigations Involving Evidence on
the Dark Web, RAND Corporation, https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2704.html

COCMUN 2022 21
the World Wide Web.31The vast majority of the rest of the internet consists of the “deep
web,” 0.01% of which is the “dark web”.

Developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to conceal online

communications,32 The dark web has since been widely known to host a multitude of
illicit content as well as enabling the purchase and provision of illegal services,
essentially making it the internet’s black market.

The dark web

has to be accessed
through a number
of networks, the
commonly used
one being TOR,
short for The
Onion Router;
TOR was a tool
developed by the
Naval Academy in
the 1990’s with the
goal of enabling
the exchange of
anonymous
communications, and was released to the public in 200233. TOR works by hiding the
user’s IP address and providing users with the most essential aspect of navigating the
dark web: Complete anonymity. However, this is not the only network to look out for.

31
What’s the Difference Between the Deep Web and the Dark Web?, Encyclopedia Britannica,
https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-the-deep-web-and-the-dark-web
32
Shining a Light on Policing of the Dark Web: An Analysis of UK Investigatory Powers, SAGE Journal,
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022018320952557
33
Taking on the Dark Web: Law Enforcement Experts ID Investigative Needs, National Institute of
Justice,
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/taking-dark-web-law-enforcement-experts-id-investigative-needs

COCMUN 2022 22
While it is the most commonly used, other anonymous networks have been used to enter
the dark web, including I1P and Freenet.34 35

A study conducted by researchers at King’s College estimated that over 57% of the
websites on the dark web are designed to facilitate criminal and illicit activity.36 Though
TOR estimates that about 1.5% of its users access these hidden services and pages37,
specific data on the usage of the network is lacking and difficult to collect due to the vast
anonymity employed by users of the dark web. Furthermore, considering the types of
crimes that are facilitated by users of the dark web, the lacking data cannot go
unnoticed, as the crimes perpetrated in the dark web can go unpunished due to its
untraceable nature. This network has been cited for facilitating crimes such as the trade
of illicit goods, such as weapons, exotic animals, drugs, stolen goods and information
such as Social Security Numbers and passwords. It has also been known to facilitate
human trafficking, assassins for hire, and the enabling of the content relating to child
abuse. A study conducted at the University of Portsmouth estimated that a disturbing
80% of illicit searches on the dark web related to pedophilia.38 The total anonimity of
the the dark web has also allowed for forums the enable the organization and execution
of terrorist and criminal acts.

Despite the abhorrent uses the dark web has been known to form, it should be
noted that the dark web is still utilized by actors who are not involved in any form of
criminal activity. In fact, the dark web’s original intent when developed by the Naval
Academy was, “to conceal the identities of American operatives or dissidents attempting
to communicate within oppressive regimes.”39 The anonymity enabled by the dark web
has been known to be used not only by private citizens and businesses seeking privacy,
especially those in countries with highly restrictive and oppressive governments that
impose limited freedom of speech, but by government sectors as well. For example
34
Online African organized crime from surface to dark web, INTERPOL, 2020
35
Picture: Dark Web, Congressional Research Service, https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R44101.pdf
36
Ibid, 32
37
Ibid, 35
38
The Dark Web Is Still A Huge, Difficult Problem, Forbes,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/timsparapani/2016/06/28/the-dark-web-is-still-a-huge-difficult-problem
/?sh=30a8de3a65b1
39
Ibid, 35

COCMUN 2022 23
political dissidents in Egypt and Iran have used TOR to anonymize their movements in
communications. Additionally, U.S. law enforcement organizations, such as the FBI,
have used the network to develop malware to compromise servers and identify
malicious users of TOR.40

III. Recent Developments

In recent years, a major factor in the trade of illicit goods and services on the dark
web, along with other types of cybercrime, is the advent of cryptocurrency. The
introduction of Bitcoin in 2009 eased transactions, as the untraceable form of
cryptocurrencies exacerbated the anonymity already provided to those participating in
criminal activity. While a record exists of the transactional movements of Bitcon and
other cryptocurrencies, the actual source of the transaction is not recorded in any
capacity. With the introduction of Bitcoin, there also came the rise of Altcoins, which
further complicates the detection and tracing of actors using decentralized currencies to
make purchases41. Furthermore, complicating this aspect of the issue is the exterior use
of cryptocurrencies for non-criminal purposes.

Case Study: Silk Road

2011 saw the launch of the first dark web market: Silk Road. Founded and
operated by “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the pseudonym employed by the actual creator of
the website, Ross Ulbricht. The website has become notorious for being the base model
for what a black market in the dark web could look like:

“The Silk Road website, which has a customer-friendly electronic

storefront that displayed bricks of cocaine as deftly as Amazon displays
books, was the cyber-underworld's largest black market, with $1.2 billion

40
Dark Web, The Congressional Research Service, https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R44101.pdf
41
INTERPOL holds first DarkNet and Cryptocurrencies Working Group, INTERPOL,
https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2018/INTERPOL-holds-first-DarkNet-and-Crypto
currencies-Working-Group

COCMUN 2022 24
 in sales and nearly a million customers. Beyond illegal drugs, the site
served as a bazaar for fake passports, driver's licenses and other
documents, as well as illegal service providers, such as hit men, forgers

and computer hackers.” - USA Today, 201342

The website was particularly infamous for its aforementioned ease of use and its
extensive provisions of illicit substances and materials, as well as services. Silk Road was
mostly known for its extensive catalogue of drugs: Over 7,000 of the 10,000 listed items
on the website were drugs.43 In addition to that, the most common form of payment
used by consumers on the Silk Road was Bitcoin. The DEA seized 11.02 bitcoins in June
2013, worth $814 cumulatively at that time.44 Before being seized by the FBI, Silk Road
boasted a total of 957,079 registered users.45

IV. Past International Action

Most of the actions taken by states and intergovernmental organizations to

expose the criminals of the dark web have been through elaborate raids and working
groups that address and research the issue extensively.

Operation DisrupTor was a successful attempt by multiple member states to

disrupt the operation of Wall Street Market, the then second largest illegal market on
the dark web. The operation was carried out in September 2020 by the European Union
Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and led to 179 arrests of vendors engaging in

42
How FBI brought down cyber-underworld site Silk Road, USA Today,
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/21/fbi-cracks-silk-road/2984921/
43
Silk Road: the online drug marketplace that officials seem powerless to stop, The Guardian,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/22/silk-road-online-drug-marketplace
44
Drug Enforcement Administration seizes 11 Bitcoins from alleged Silk Road dealer, The Verge,
https://www.theverge.com/2013/6/26/4468302/drug-enforcement-agency-seizes-11-bitcoins-in-south-c
arolina-bust-silk-road
45
FBI shuts down online drug market Silk Road, CNN,
https://money.cnn.com/2013/10/02/technology/silk-road-shut-down/index.html

COCMUN 2022 25
the illicit trade of drugs and firearms on Wall Street Market.46 The operation seized over
500 kilograms of drugs, 64 firearms and $6.5 million of both cash and virtual
currencies, with arrests being carried out in the United States, Germany, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria and Sweden. The Operation was led by Dutch
National Police, Europol and Eurojust, an agency of the European Union that deals with
co-operation of criminal matters among member states.

Additionally, the closure of Silk Road on behalf of the FBI is an example of how
individual states have acted against the illicit activity on the Dark Web. The FBI has
detailed that to catch Ulbricht, they intercepted communications sent from his account,
starting with tracking down an exchange of messages that recorded Ulbricht trying to
hire someone to kill an anonymous user who extorted him. After Ulbricht was tracked
down, the FBI was able to track down and arrest Ulbricht, seizing the website and
Bitcoins, valued at approximately $3.5 million at that time. The FBI partnered with the
International Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and an
investigative unit of the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to see
the operation through.47

On the other hand, INTERPOL launched Project ITANIUM in May 2017, with the
aim of investigating the use of cryptocurrencies in underground market transactions.
Ending in April 2020, the project resulted in the creation of services and forensic tools
that can be used to monitor trends in dark web market ecosystems and analyze
transactions across different virtual ledgers.48 INTERPOL is also part of Project ENACT,
which works to mitigate organized crime, including disrupting dark web operations, in
Africa.49 INTERPOL provides strategies, communication networks, and investigative

46
International sting against dark web vendors leads to 179 arrests, EUROPOL,
https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/international-sting-against-dark-web-ven
dors-leads-to-179-arrests
47
Ibid, 44
48
Project Titanium, INTERPOL,
https://www.interpol.int/en/Who-we-are/Legal-framework/Information-communications-and-technolo
gy-ICT-law-projects/Project-Titanium
49
Project ENACT, INTERPOL,
https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Criminal-intelligence-analysis/Project-ENACT

COCMUN 2022 26
resources to police in Africa to aid in the fight against transnational crime in the region,
a lot of which is facilitated by the dark web.

In a purely legislative sense, however, the dark web remains largely unnoticed.
The most recent type of legislation aimed to disrupt criminal operations was proposed
by Australian home affairs minister Peter Dutton. The bill gives Australian Federal
Police and the Australian Intelligence Commission powers to disrupt and investigate a
broader range of crimes with the creation of new types of warrants that directly tackle
dark web operations.50 According to Dutton, the bill takes aim at child abusers,
terrorists, online arms traders, and human trafficking, among others.51 Despite the
extensive coverage of the bill, some critics have argued that the bill provides
extraordinary powers to authorities with little oversight, creating potential privacy
issues.

V. Bloc Positions

The act of finding and disrupting malicious actors on the dark web is
complicated, primarily by the extent of certain jurisdictions across nations. The
anonymity provided to users of hidden networks and services also makes them
incredibly hard to keep track of in finding, an issue only exacerbated by the lacking data
of what truly goes on the dark web, but more specifically what criminal actors do. It is
also worth being noted that the dark web, while known in the public as the seedy
underbelly of the world wide web, does have benefits to legitimate actors who are
seeking privacy for one reason or another. Weeding out the ones who use anonymity for
malicious purposes is key.

50
New powers to combat crime on the dark web, Minister for Home Affairs (AU),
https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/KarenAndrews/Pages/new-powers-to-combat-crime-on-the-dark-w
eb.aspx
51
Dark web crime: how Australia's powerful new warrants would work, The Guardian,
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/03/dark-web-how-australias-powerful-new-wa
rrants-would-work

COCMUN 2022 27
 Developed Countries

Developed Countries have expansive networks and law enforcement resources

that can be used to track down and mitigate dark web and cybercrime operations.
Despite this, those that are part of this bloc need to keep in mind that while a lot of the
perpetrators of the dark web are foreign, the headquarters are usually located within
their own countries. Furthermore, the stronger communication systems found within
developed countries means there is a higher likelihood that hidden networks, such as
TOR, can be accessed by those in this bloc (e.g. The vast majority of those captured in
Operation DisrupTor were from larger developed countries like the United States).52

Developing Countries

Developing countries face two primary issues when it comes to dealing with actors in the
dark web: Lack of resources in their law enforcement departments and being hot spots
for illicit activity. INTERPOL has warned that African countries are at an especially high
risk of cybercrime, due to the lacking policies to combat cybercrime in many African
nations. This is only exacerbated by the aforementioned lacking law enforcement
resources that are commonly found in developing nations, especially regarding
technology required and needed to keep up with crimes perpetrated online and on the
dark web.

VI. Questions to Consider

1. How can the integrity of the dark web be preserved for those who use it for
legitimate purposes?
2. What steps can be taken to protect people at risk from becoming victims of the
dark web?
3. How can current victims of online perpetrators be helped?

52
Ibid, 48

COCMUN 2022 28
 4. Anonymity is one of the main components that make the dark web an attractive
prospect to criminals. Can criminal operations be disrupted without being
invasive to private citizens?
5. How can governments work with INTERPOL to implement effective solutions to
the ongoing issues regarding the dark web?

COCMUN 2022 29