Gerald Gahima
Former Deputy Chief Justice to the Rwanda Supreme Court
The Center for Applied Innovation
Haruna Ismaila
Deputy Superintendant of Police
Nigerian Police Force, Office of the National Security Advisor to the President, Nigeria
Colonel Bob Morris
U.S. Army (Ret’d), Founder and President
Partners International Foundation
The IED has become a very effective weapon for those advancing their cause through terror and violence. On average, excluding Iraq and Afghanistan, there are over three IED incidents daily around the world. This amounts to global epidemic of IED use. IED users leverage social media to their advantage. The Noway Bomber referred to his Facebook and other posts prior to his IED attacks as his "press release".
The power of social media was recently demonstrated in toppling repressive governments. It can be even more powerful in neutralizing IED networks and eliminating the root causes that support their development. The session will provide a panel of experts to explore how the power of social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) can be harnessed to combat the growing global IED epidemic. It will include current technology initiatives such as the IED Alert and Reporting System (IARS) and the IED Incident Tracker (IIT) and what other mobile technology and other enablers can do. Participants will be encouraged to explore solutions and develop strategies that can be continued after the workshop. Panel will include world class experts including former high ranking African government officials. Real-world examples from Nigeria and other locations will be used.
Learning Points:
- Understand the power and potential of Social Media in combatting Global Terrorism and particularly IEDs.
- Explore existing and potential technology enablers and how they can support existing public-provate security efforts.
- Develop potential solutions and partnership opportunities as well as secure commitments of support from participants.