An editorial by project coordinator Cătălin Trufin from Assist Software (Romania) on the occasion of the successful completion of CounteR – our three-year project, funded through Horizon Europe – EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
After a challenging yet rewarding three-year journey, the CounteR Horizon 2020 project has come to an end, leaving behind a legacy of valuable research findings spanning diverse disciplinary fields. Additionally, the project introduces the CounteR platform — an innovative early-warning tool meticulously crafted to detect radical content within the online environment. Together, these outcomes symbolise the project’s significant contribution to enhancing digital security and combating radicalisation.
The CounteR consortium brought together the expertise of esteemed figures from academia, social sciences and humanities, data science specialists, software developers, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), internet service providers (ISP) and ethical and legal consultants. The multidisciplinary team collaborated closely to develop a multifaceted and comprehensive tool capable of addressing the complexities of the challenge at hand.
Our experts in social sciences and humanities played a crucial role in conducting research and providing theoretical frameworks, their contributions forming the basis for understanding radicalisation’s psychological and sociological aspects.
Data science specialists from academia, research institutes, and private companies made significant contributions to the CounteR project by analysing vast datasets to uncover patterns and trends. Utilising advanced algorithms and data models, they developed sophisticated tools to detect and predict indicators of radicalisation. Employing machine learning and data mining techniques, they extracted actionable insights from diverse data sources, aiding in the understanding of radicalisation dynamics. Furthermore, dedicated partners focused on social network analysis (SNA) contributed invaluable expertise in understanding social networks’ intricate structure, dynamics, and connections. Through SNA methodologies, they enabled the identification of radicalisation hotspots, key nodes and communities within these networks. Their insights provided a critical context for devising targeted interventions and strategies to combat radicalisation effectively.
Software developers designed and developed the technological infrastructure for the CounteR platform, implementing a user-friendly interface and functionalities for data collection, analysis and visualisation.
The presence of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in the CounteR project underscores the importance of collaboration between security experts and researchers from diverse disciplines in addressing radicalisation and terrorism. LEAs bring a unique perspective to the project, drawing on their experience and expertise in counterterrorism efforts. Furthermore, the LEAs played a role in validating the effectiveness and feasibility of CounteR’s solutions in real-world settings. Their input and feedback helped ensure that the project’s outcomes are practical, scalable, and aligned with the needs of LEAs and other stakeholders involved in counterterrorism efforts.
The ISP contributed by providing access to online platforms and networks for data collection and analysis. Their collaboration in implementing measures to detect and mitigate extremist content online is crucial for addressing radicalisation in the digital space.
From conducting research to developing technological tools, CounteR’s entire implementation was guided by its unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of data protection and ethical integrity. This assurance, including rigorous legitimate interest assessments, was maintained by the diligent oversight of legal and ethical consultants.
The CounteR prototype underwent multiple piloting sessions, allowing the consortium to refine and improve it after each iteration. This process of continuous feedback and adjustment ensured that the prototype evolved to meet the needs and requirements of end-users effectively.
Building upon the valuable work conducted within the project, the consortium is committed to leveraging its results and continuing to develop and refine them into a tangible, final product. To ensure the sustainability of the project, proactive steps are being taken to secure additional funding, enabling the CounteR solution to progress to the next level.
The Privacy-First Situational Awareness Platform for Violent Terrorism and Crime Prediction, Counter Radicalization and Citizen Protection Project – or CounteR – is funded through the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union and submitted under the H2020-SU-SEC-2020 call for proposals, with project ID 101021607.
