ASEAN Urged To Boost Real-Time Intelligence Sharing On Terrorism
By Anas Abu Hassan
SINGAPORE, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- ASEAN countries have been urged to enhance cooperation in real-time intelligence sharing to address growing terrorism threats in the region, an expert said.
Crisis and threat analyst Peter Nicoll believed that ASEAN member states should prioritise digital interception capabilities to counter highly sophisticated radicalisation trends, especially with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI).
He noted that strengthening ASEAN cooperation could move beyond formal meetings and pave the way for automated technology networks capable of tracking cross-border digital extremist footprints.
“We have got to look at counter-narratives, where we launch sharper digital campaigns to debunk the propaganda surrounding international conflicts before it can take root in these vulnerable minds.
“Security agencies must rapidly adapt to fight AI-driven threats as extremists are now using AI to translate propaganda and auto-generate deepfakes at some scale," he said on Bernama TV’s Bernama World programme entitled "Rising Terrorism Threat in Singapore" on Tuesday.
Last week, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD), in its latest Terrorism Threat Assessment Report 2026, indicated that the republic remained an attractive target for terrorist elements, with ongoing conflicts in West Asia adding to security concerns.
The report also highlighted that the city-state continues to face a high terrorism threat, with online platforms fuelling radicalisation, especially among youths.
According to Nicoll, youth radicalisation has evolved beyond traditional methods, with extremists increasingly using gaming platforms and moving away from traditional chat groups to online video games and gaming servers.
To this end, Nicoll also stressed the need for ASEAN to prioritise the regulation and monitoring of gaming servers and decentralised platforms, where technology companies currently have limited moderation capabilities.
“Security agencies can no longer just screen for traditional religious slogans; they must learn to spot the coded symbols, algorithms and subcultures of online acceleration of these particular threats,” he added.
Additionally, he urged parents and relatives to remain cautious about warning signs of self-radicalisation among younger family members.
He said they should be alert to behavioural changes, such as individuals suddenly isolating themselves from family members and longtime friends, or consuming and sharing extremist videos, flags or radical manifestos online.
Self-radicalised youths may also develop a sudden interest in real-world violence or express intentions to travel to conflict zones, he added.
-- BERNAMA
