'Shall we play a game - How about a nice game of chess?'

IS publishing video clips of beheadings and recruitment films, US Centcom Twitter Account being
hacked, the Metropolitan Police bill now passing £10m for the cost of guarding the Ecuadorean Embassy to ensure that Julian Assange does not escape custody, are all recent and ongoing examples that the internet and its facilities have been allowed to grow without appropriate oversight and security.

The field of International Security continues to grow from the fast developing industry of Private Military Security Companies, the use of UAVs and drones for the use of surveillance and a military tool, to the infinitive structure of the internet and the implications of connectivity within the security and battle space.

David Kilcullen states in his book 'Out of the Mountains' that from his research the following four elements may very well become the main drivers of future conflict:

• Population Growth - The continuing rise in the planets total population.
• Urbanisation - The tendency for people to live in larger and larger cities.
• Littoralization -The propensity for these cities to cluster on coastlines.
• Connectivity - The increasing connectivity among people, wherever they live to the internet and satellite TV, mobile phone networks etc.

It is the element of connectivity I wish to discuss briefly as the online security, the growth of computer hacking, the increase use of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and others are all becoming more prevalent in todays society and within the security arena.  The growth in social media continues to develop and has been observed as being used for good and otherwise.

On the 3rd February 2015 the Independent Newspaper confirmed that a new specialist force is being created within the British Military Infrastructure for the purpose of 'non lethal forms of psychological warfare' through the use of social media.  As describe in the article as 'The fight in the information age'.

This unit is to be made up of regular and reserve troops as well as civilians.  This move illustrates the importance and effectiveness the on line battle has become, and the need to enhance security on line to enhance the security in the 'real world'.  Good luck to Brigade 77 and I trust that they will respect the origins of their unit's name and history and strive to uphold the traditions of its predecessors; 'The boldest measures are the safest'.

The recruitment of both military personnel and civilian personnel, highlight the need in our armed forces for outsourcing expertise, but this is a topic for a future article.

Back to connectivity.  As detailed in Kilcullen's book, the internet is providing the information and organisational infrastructure for organisations from IS to the public movements behind the Egyptian, Libyan and other countries uprising under the banner of the Arab Spring.  As we have learnt through the study of IS's tactics and the tactics observed in the Arab Spring, the internet has  and is playing a pivotal role on the PR front for legal and illegal groups, as well as allowing instant communication throughout the world to raise support, awareness and funds for the causes.

The protestors strategy observed in the Arab Spring, through social media facilities consisted of:

• Facebook - A central depositary to organise and announce details of protests.
• Twitter - A command and control coordination tool - was used very effectively on the ground to co-ordinate on the ground strategy and direct movement of large groups of people instantly. 
• Youtube - The media channel -  used as the 'newsroom' where videos from smart phones, cameras etc where posted for the audience of the mass media outlets and national and international supporters, enhancing support.

In a similar fashion, this online structure was efficiently used by the organisers of the Mumbai attacks and coordinated from Pakistan.   Monitoring of live feed from news broadcast via TV and Facebook and Twitter and communicating to the attackers on the ground from their ops room in Pakistan, the online facilities were the backbone of the terrorists command and control functions.

It does appear that Security Forces in these countries and to a certain degree internationally are playing catch up regarding combating and utilising the use of Social Media within the Battlespace.  Hackers in China using the label of Anonymous, republican demonstrators funded in Dublin by Sinn Fein / IRA manipulating Facebook and Youtube, Pedophile rings grooming children online, to faceless hackers under the banner of Anonymous, hacking accounts and websites just for the 'lulz', the internet has been purposely allowed to grow into a wild west environment without no oversight or control.

Although some say this is in the name of 'freedom of speech' the internet is a social and commercial being, and as such the organisations which function within it must be responsible to contribute to its security.  In fact it should be the responsibility of all of us who must exercise a duty of care to ensure the security and welfare of individuals, families, nations, companies and governments.

As reported in the BBC news 4th November 2014, the UK GCHQ announced that 'tech firms' are 'in denial on extremism'.  I believe this denial is not just by the Tech Firms, but by us all.  Tech Firms, especially Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and the like must enhance the protection of its users and cooperate with the Security Services to enhance the security for all their users.  Promotion of terrorist organisations must be stopped, feeds on Facebook from UK men and women who have travelled to the middle east to fight with IS must be made known to the security services to enhance the security of the real world.

If this is not done, the terrorism and illegal actions of the misusers will grow and the game of chess between the security services will continue in a revolving circle, increasing out of control.  Tech Firms and users need to wake up and assist the Security Services, otherwise future murders by IS such as Moas Al-Kasasbeh, the Jordanian pilot, who was burnt alive or Lee Rigby, where his murders actually posted their planned intents will be on the tech firms key strokes and profit margins.