The EU Internet Forum (EUIF) launched by the Commission in December 2015, addresses the misuse of the internet for terrorist purposes through two main actions:
- reducing accessibility to terrorist content online
- increasing the volume of effective alternative narratives online
The Forum’s activities also cover the fight against child sexual abuse online (since 2019), drug trafficking online and trafficking in human beings online (since 2022).
Mission
The EU Internet Forum creates a collaborative environment for EU governments, the internet industry, and other partners to discuss and address the challenges posed by the malicious and illegal content online.
The Forum explores responses against abuse and exploitation of online platforms by terrorists and violent extremists, as well as other malicious actors including those that groom children for the purpose of sexual abuse. It also investigates the production and dissemination of child sexual abuse material online.
Actions and areas of work
The EU Internet Forum oversees several initiatives addressing the EU and industry response to terrorist attacks with an online dimension.
- The EUIF was involved in the creation of Europol’s EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) which flags and refers terrorist content online to online platforms. Following the live-streaming of the Christchurch attack in March 2019, the EUIF agreed on the EU Crisis Protocol to respond to the viral spread of terrorist and violent extremist content online.
- The EUIF developed a list of Violent Right-Wing Extremism’ (VRWE) groups online, symbols, and manifestos to facilitate online content moderation for industry stakeholders. It’s a step forward to tackle the emerging challenges posed by VRWE presence online.
- In 2015, the EUIF launched the Civil Society Empowerment Programme (CSEP) to support civil society organisations in the fight against terrorist and extremist propaganda online. The Programme concluded in 2022. A revised version, renamed the Community Engagement and Empowerment Programme, is planned in 2025.
- The EUIF supports analysis and discussion on existing and emerging challenges, such as preventing the misuse of generative AI for terrorist purposes and the sexual abuse and exploitation of children online.
- Through data and evidence, including on emerging threats, the EUIF is supporting the preparation and implementation of EU legislation on preventing and combating child sexual abuse
- The EUIF collaborates with other global forums and initiatives dedicated to addressing violent extremism and child sexual abuse online.
- The EU Internet Forum commissioned a study on the role and effects of algorithms in spreading terrorist, violent extremist and borderline content.
Membership
The Forum is chaired by the European Commission and brings together a wide range of institutions, organisations, and networks as active members:
- EU countries and countries of the European Free Trade Agreement
- European institutions and Agencies, such as Europol, Eurojust, the Fundamental Rights Agency, the European External Action Service, and the Council’s Counter Terrorism Coordinator
- Internet industry, including Amazon, Automattic, DailyMotion, Discord, Dropbox, Meta, MistralAI, Google, Internet Archive, Just Paste.it, Mega, Microsoft, Snap, Soundcloud, Telegram, Twitter, Twitch, Yubo, TikTok, Roblox and Zoom
- The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism
- Tech Against Terrorism
- The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism; United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee
- The EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation (formerly the Radicalisation Awareness Network)
- Tech Coalition
- Home-Internet-Forum
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Institute for Strategic Dialogue)
Events
The EUIF Ministerial takes place once a year, while there are other meetings throughout the year to support the Forum’s activities, such as the Senior Officials Meetings and workshops.
February: EUIF Ministerial: (agenda, opening by the Commissioner)
September:
March: Terrorist Operated Websites Workshop (agenda, RAN Policy Support paper)
June: Senior Officials Meeting (agenda)
September: Algorithmic Amplification and Borderline Content Workshop (agenda)
October: Violent Extremist and Terrorist Financing Activities Online (agenda)
December: EUIF Ministerial (agenda), Opening by the Commissioner (video)
January: EUIF Ministerial (agenda, Commissioner’s speech)
March: Right-Wing Extremism Technical Meeting (agenda)
June: Senior Officials Meeting (agenda)
September: Algorithmic Amplification Workshop (agenda, RAN presentation)
October: Technical Meeting on Video-Gaming (agenda, RAN Policy support paper, Suraj Lakhani presentation)
November
- Table-Top Exercise (Europol Press Release)
- Senior Officials Meeting (agenda, PREO Presentation)
December: EUIF Ministerial (agenda, Commissioner’s speech)
May: Right-Wing Extremism Technical Meeting (agenda, discussion paper)
July: Senior Officials Meeting (agenda)
August: EU Crisis Protocol Meeting (agenda)
October: Right-Wing Extremism Workshop (agenda, McNeil-Wilson paper)
November: Table-Top Exercise (Europol press release)
May: Senior Officials Meeting (agenda, Ritzmann paper,Vox Pol document)
July: Technical Meeting (agenda)
October: EUIF Ministerial (agenda, EUIF press release)
Useful documents
- EU Internet Forum activities 2024
- EU Internet Forum activities 2023
- EU Internet Forum brochure 2022
- Blueprint Reference List
- EU Internet Forum Activities in 2021
- EU Internet Forum Activities in 2022
- EU Crisis Protocol Factsheet
- EUIF Rules of procedure
- EU Strategy on a more effective fight against child sexual abuse
Contact
For more information or questions about the EU Internet Forum and its activities, reach us at the following email address: Home-Internet-Forumec [dot] europa [dot] eu.