40
technologies and the resultant need to educate the sector around the potential uses/benefits of new technologies (and the time/resource implications associated with education). Alongside this, the team has had to navigate competing priorities within organisations and the ERDF related funding restrictions (e.g. around commercialisation).
5.13 In contrast to LegalTech, the University already had strong and established relationships in Cyber Threats research. However, the operation has supported additional research capacity, leading to a “critical mass” within CYTREC which consultees felt had enhanced the team’s external credibility. For example, the team has strong links with South West Police, the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) / Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), United Nations Counter Terrorism
Important stakeholders see CYTREC and LILW as a trusted, credible partner
Internal stakeholder consultee
Executive Directorate (UN CTED), Europol, UK Counter Terrorism, and Welsh and UK Governments. In addition, CYTREC hosts the biannual 12 Terrorism and Social Media (TASM) conference which brings together a range of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners from different countries and disciplines. The TASM 2022 conference attracted over 200 attendees from over 15 countries, with representation from the major social media companies including TikTok, Facebook and Twitter.
5.14 In addition, since the Mid-Term Evaluation the Director of CYTREC has taken on the coordinator role in the VOX-Pol network – an EU funded academic network focused on violent online political extremism – meaning the network is now led by Swansea University (formerly led by Dublin City University). Consultees emphasised the potential of this network to contribute to potential research collaborations and funding opportunities in future. Positively, feedback suggests that the operation contributed to CYTREC being appointed network lead through supporting the development of a “focal point” for expertise and activity in this area of research.
[VOX-Pol] provides a very exciting space for new ideas, research collaboration and the development of researchers
Internal stakeholder consultee
12 Note, the conference was biannual until 2021 (when it was delivered online due to the Covid-19 pandemic), but was also held the following year in 2022.
Legal Innovation Lab Wales
Made with FlippingBook HTML5