Right- and Left-Wing Violent Extremist Abuse of Digital Technologies in the Global South

Summary

This report, jointly published by UNICRI and VOX-Pol, examines digital technology abuse by right- and left-wing violent extremists in South America, Africa, and Asia—an understudied region compared to the Global North. Based on 31 expert interviews and regional case studies, key findings reveal that extremist actors face fewer content moderation restrictions, exploit language and cultural enforcement gaps, and operate across multiple platforms. While offensive cyber operations remain limited, groups increasingly use encryption and VPNs for defensive purposes. Three critical trends emerge: the interconnectedness of online and offline activities; growing convergence between extremists and state-backed actors; and sophisticated multi-platform exploitation. The report offers recommendations for Member States, researchers, technology companies, and international organisations to address these evolving threats.

Keywords

violent extremism, digital technologies, Global South, right-wing, left-wing