UN chief warns of recruiting by terrorist groups via social media

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for curtailing terrorists groups' ability to misuse the internet and social media to radicalize and recruit young people.

Ban made the appeal while speaking at an open debate on countering terrorism.

More than 30,000 people from all over the world have joined Daesh's campaigns in Iraq and Syria, said Ban, who warned that Daesh -- the Arabic name for the Islamic State the terrorist group -- has shown an ability to radicalize and recruit disaffected youth, including women and girls, through strategies involving the internet and social media.

"We must curtail the ability to abuse and misuse the Internet and social media to radicalize and recruit young people, by identifying global and regional solutions that involve governments, private enterprise and civil society," said Ban at the Security Council meeting on countering terrorism.

"Strategies to counter the threat of online radicalization will also require legislative and law enforcement measures at the national level," he stressed, adding that to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, nations should intervene at all stages -- from their initial radicalization to their travel and return.

In addition, Ban called on member states to take concrete steps to stop fundraising through the smuggling of oil and gas, the illicit trade of cultural artifacts, kidnapping for ransom and donations from abroad. Endit