Cyber attacks key threat to UK
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, ISLAMIC fundamentalism and cyber attacks are viewed by the public as the most critical threats to UK interests over the next 10 years, says the first ever national survey of security concerns and foreign policy attitudes. The survey of 2,000 UK adults and 597 security experts, drawn from active military service as well as the Defence Academy and Royal United Services Institute, reveals both differences and similarities between the concerns of the UK’s security ‘elites’ and the broader public.
Among the security experts surveyed, 73% identified cyber attacks on UK computer networks as a critical threat, while one in four considered Russia’s territorial ambitions, climate change, international terrorism and the possibility of unfriendly countries becoming nuclear powers as similarly threatening to UK vital interests. For economic and social issues, 57% of experts compared to 81% of the public considered a large number of economic migrants entering the UK a threat. And 59% of experts vs 80% of the public see UK interests threatened by economic competition from low-wage countries. UK public and defence experts agree in their support for a strong national military with no reduction in defence spending and the need for strong security alliances with the EU. Researcher Dr Catarina Thomson says: “Interestingly, over two-thirds of Leave voters in our survey still supported strong security alliances with Europe.” n
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Contact Dr Catarina Thomson, University of Exeter Email
c.p.thomson@
exeter.ac.uk Telephone 01392 725595 Web
rusi.org/sites/default/files/201802_ whr_2-18_mind_the_gap.pdf ESRC Grant Number ES/L010879/1
Dark web plays growing role in illegal arms
T
HE ‘DARK WEB’ is playing a growing role in the trade in firearms, ammunition and explosives, says the
first study of the size and scope of the illegal arms trade on the dark web. “Terrorists and criminals can conduct illegal transactions protected by the veil of anonymity offered by the dark web, from the safety of their homes, and without requiring any prior connections to suppliers,” says researcher Dr Giacomo Persi Paoli. Findings show that the majority of firearms available on the dark web (60%) come from the US but that Europe represents the largest market for dark web firearms. Overall, the dark web is increasing the availability of more recent and powerful firearms for the same, or lower, price than would be available on the street or the black market.
Although the arms trade on the dark web is very small compared to the legal trade of arms worldwide, or even compared to the offline black market, the dark web’s potential to anonymously arm criminals, as well as vulnerable and fixated individuals, is of considerable concern.
8 SOCIETY NOW AUTUMN 2018
The study suggests that while governments and law enforcement agencies will be required to adapt strategies to address the dark web, traditional policing and investigative techniques will remain vital. These include traditional firearms control measures designed to tackle illicit trafficking, such as efficient marking and record-keeping and good stockpile management. “The dark web offers a platform
to trade firearms, but does not create completely new firearms,” says Dr Persi Paoli. “If properly implemented, all measures designed to tackle illegal arms trafficking ‘in the real world’ may reduce the availability of illegal weapons to be traded. The only exception is the availability on the dark web of 3D models for homemade 3D-printed firearms. This new element will require further investigation as 3D printing continues to develop and grow.” n
i Contact Dr Giacomo Persi Paoli, RAND Europe
Email
giacomo_persi_paoli@rand.org Telephone 01223 353329 Web
www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/ RR2091.html
ESRC Grant Number ES/P001408/1
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