Counter-Terrorism Technologies

A Critical Assessment

Peter Lehr author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Springer International Publishing AG

Published:26th Jul '18

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Counter-Terrorism Technologies cover

This book critically discusses the role of technology for counter-terrorism in general, and for securing our vulnerable open societies in particular. It is set against the backdrop of the terrorist threat posed by the combined forces of Al Qaeda and ISIS/Daesh in the foreseeable future. 

The book commences by illuminating current and foreseeable tactics and weapons used by these implacable enemies – weapons that may well include chemical, biological, radiological and potentially even nuclear (CBRN) devices. In a second part, it introduces technologies already available or in development that promise an increase in safety and security when it comes to the dangers posed by these terrorists. This part also includes a critical discussion of advantages and disadvantages of such technologies that are, quite often, sold as a ‘silver bullet’ approach in the fight against terrorism. Controversies such as those triggered by the abuse of millimeter wave scanners deployed at severalWestern European airports will demonstrate that there are costs involved with regard to human rights. The third, analytical part takes the critical discussion further by arguing that the uncritical fielding of new surveillance and control technologies in parallel with the on-going outsourcing and privatization of key services of the state could well lead to dystopias as envisaged in a rather prescient way by the so-called cyperpunk novels of the 1980s. The book concludes with the question that any liberal democracy should ask itself: how far can we go with regard to hardening our societies against terrorist threats?

“Lehr’s book is a very useful tool for both academics and practitioners to get an overview of how our social world has been changing by the complex coexistence of (still) open societies, the threat of terror, surveillance/security mechanisms, and the many aspects of digitalisation. Counter-Terrorism Technologies captures an intriguing age of transition that one day might make more sense for posterity than it does now for us. … thanks to the critical-analytical approach.” (Zsófia Hacsek, Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, December 22, 2020)

ISBN: 9783319909233

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

217 pages

1st ed. 2019