Vietnam's Cyber Space Faces Growing Terrorist and Extremist Threats

Cyberspace is emerging as a fertile ground for global terrorist and extremist organizations to spread violent ideologies and recruit members. The dark tide of extremism is silently spreading online, making counter-terrorism in the digital age not just a technological issue, but one intrinsically linked to global security, demanding close collaboration among all parties. The modus operandi of terrorist and extremist networks is rapidly evolving, with cyberspace becoming a new battlefield. Extremist content can easily reach young people through sophisticated "traps" such as online games and private chat groups. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now aiding terrorist forces in generating propaganda content faster and personalizing messages more effectively. In 2025, the European Union (EU) recorded 45 terrorist attacks and thwarted plots, with 130 suspects under 18 arrested for terrorism-related offenses. Another study indicated that in 2025, investigations involving adolescents and children accounted for 42% of all terrorism investigations in Europe and North America. During an operation in June and July 2026, the European Police Agency (Europol) removed approximately 4,340 websites containing violent and extremist content associated with an online network named "The Com." The fight against terrorism is increasingly becoming a struggle to protect youth from the psychological manipulation and behavioral influence risks in cyberspace. In early September 2026, the EU's Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Bartjan Wegter, urged increased pressure on social media platforms, citing the growing number of young people being radicalized and drawn into carrying out attacks. According to Wegter, the EU's current regulatory system for extremist content is insufficient to fully address emerging threats. The changing operational methods of extremist and terrorist groups make it harder to detect, track, and prevent recruitment. Individuals can rapidly disseminate materials inciting violence and hatred through small online communities, bypassing the need for large organizational structures. In response to the wave of online extremism, many countries are working to tighten their legal frameworks, compelling major online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to comply with numerous obligations under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), including the removal of illegal content. In the United States, numerous online platforms face lawsuits for potentially harming children and adolescents. However, Wegter highlights a "worrying gap": content that cannot be directly classified as terrorist but still incites hateful and extremist sentiments among viewers. Legal frameworks alone cannot fundamentally solve these pressing issues without close coordination and attention from families. Parents are advised to closely monitor their children's online activities and encourage more real-world interactions. Social factors such as political polarization, religious tensions, and psychological issues also exacerbate these risks. Given the borderless nature of the digital environment, the fight against terrorism on online platforms is a shared challenge and responsibility, requiring the concerted efforts of governments, technology companies, families, schools, and communities.