Radicalization in the Workplace
2 likes815 views
This document discusses radicalization and insider threats in the workplace. It defines radicalization as adopting extreme political, social, or religious ideals that justify violence. Recent events have increased executive concerns about workplace violence and radicalization. Radicalization can manifest as a violent act supported by an organization or as the result of an openly stated goal. Individuals may be radicalized through narrow indoctrination and exposure to inevitable catastrophic events. The document outlines different types of threats - violent extremists, homegrown violent extremists, and domestic terrorists. It discusses drivers of radicalization like personal, group, community, and ideological factors. The document emphasizes detecting and investigating insider threats early to prevent harm.
Radicalization in the Workplace
- 2. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters2 ORIGINS: WHY THE EXECUTIVE CONCERN? "We are witnessing, in my view, a change in the nature of mass shootings in the U.S. No longer are they solely defined by a single, isolated aggrieved shooter but a shooter or shooters embedded in, justified by and potentially supported by an ongoing ideological framework.” ALAN J. LIPMAN, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
- 3. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters3 ORIGINS: WHY THE SPOTLIGHT NOW? A marked rise in executive concerns Increasing focus on workplace violence and active shooter prevention Recent terror events in Europe and Turkey – and in the U.S., from San Bernardino to the Navy Yard Media spin, opinion and frenzy Politics and the U.S. election process Complexity of the issues – from privacy to religious expression Overlapping executive responsibilities – Security, HR, Legal, IT, Law Enforcement
- 4. 4 Radicalization cuts across many areas So where exactly does threatening behavior related to radicalization fit in? HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters • Workplace violence • Substance abuse • Hostile work environment • Criminal activity • Inappropriate behavior • Sexual harassment
- 5. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters5 DEFINITION Radicalization “Radicalization is a personal process in which individuals adopt extreme political, social and/or religious ideals and aspirations, and where the attainment of particular goals justifies the use of indiscriminate violence. It is both a mental and emotional process that prepares and motivates an individual to pursue violent behavior.” Source: A. S. Wilner and C. J. Dubouloz, "Homegrown terrorism and transformative learning: an interdisciplinary approach to understanding radicalization," GlobalChange, Peace & Security (formerly Pacifica Review: Peace, Security & Global Change) 22:1 (2010): 38.
- 6. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters6 What Security and HR leaders are saying • “Duty of care” obligates companies to keep the employee population fully informed regarding ALL potentially threatening behaviors and, conversely, behaviors that may require tolerance in the workplace as well as reporting. • Radicalization falls into a subset of workplace violence behaviors. • Awareness training should be provided to employees regarding radicalization and orientations. • Accommodations for particular non- threatening belief practices should be considered and established.
- 7. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters7 The spectrum of potential behavior that could be “radicalized” should be broadened to include: • Gun rights • Abortion • Racism • Animal rights • Religious extremism • Ultra right-wing activism • Ultra left-wing activism • Environmental activism
- 8. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters8 ACCOUNTABILITY: OVERLAPPING AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY CATEGORIES • Workplace Violence • Hostile Work Environment • Criminal Behavior • Cyber • Sexual Harassment • Substance Abuse • Inappropriate Behavior STAKEHOLDERS • Security • HR • Legal • IT • Law Enforcement ACTIONS • Document • Employee Assistance Program • Confront • Report to Law Enforcement • Counsel • Personal Action
- 9. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters9 MANIFESTATION IN THE WORKPLACE Radicalization can manifest itself as: • A violent, aggressive, selfless act conducted on a random target, with encouragement, enabling and logistical support from an identifiable segment of an organization that has hijacked or bastardized a goal. • The result of an openly stated goal or purpose of an organization or body.
- 10. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters10 PATHS TO RADICALIZATION Disciples may be radicalized through exposure to: • A narrow indoctrination path. • No outside contrary opinions. • The inevitability of a catastrophic event as the likely outcome.
- 11. 11 Violent Extremist Person who advocates, is engaged in or is preparing to engage in ideologically motivated terrorist activities (including providing support to terrorism) to further political or social objectives promoted by a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). THREATS: THREE TYPES OF ATTACKERS HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters
- 12. 12 Homegrown Violent Extremist (HVE) THREATS: THREE TYPES OF ATTACKERS HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters A U.S. person who was once assimilated into, but who has rejected the cultural values, beliefs and environment of the U.S. in favor of a violent extremist ideology. He or she is “U.S. radicalized” and intends to commit terrorism inside the U.S. without direct support or direction from a foreign terrorist organization.
- 13. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters13 THREATS: THREE TYPES OF ATTACKERS Domestic Terrorist Person who engages in unlawful acts of violence to intimidate civilian populations or attempt to influence domestic policy (as opposed to furthering the aims of a foreign terrorist organization) without direction from or influence by a foreign actor. Examples include acts by racist, supremacist, antigovernment, environmental, animal rights or other single-issue extremist groups or movements.
- 14. 14 A sampling of lessons the U.S. intelligence community is gleaning from recent events • Radicalization increases the likelihood of violence. • Individuals and groups follow different paths to violence. • Multiple factors indicate why some choose terrorist violence. • A one-factor approach to intervention will fail. • Factor importance varies across cases and circumstances. • Some factors serve as catalysts for others and can trigger a chain of events. INSIGHTS: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF RADICALIZATION HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters
- 15. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters15 DRIVERS: FACTORS THAT INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL’S VULNERABILITY Personal Factors Group Factors Community Factors Sociopolitical Factors Ideological Factors • Psychological • Demographic backgrounds • Personal history • Social networks • Family and peer groups • Group dynamics • Alienation • Marginalization • Diaspora relationships with home country • Collective grievances • Foreign policy • External events • Appeal of justifying narrative • Charismatic ideologues
- 16. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters16 MOBILIZATION A Portfolio of Indicators Other Indicators (Sampling) • Preparing and disseminating a last will, martyrdom video or statement. • Seeking help from family and friends to enable travel to join terrorist groups overseas. • Planning or attempting to travel to a conflict zone to fight with or support an FTO. • Seeking religious or political justification for violent acts. • Employing counter- surveillance techniques. • Establishing suspicious travel patterns. • Deleting social media and other online accounts to avoid tracking by law enforcement. • Suspicious acquisition of maps or blueprints.
- 17. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters17 DEFINITION Workplace Insider Threats “A current or former employee, contractor or other business partner who has or had access to an organization’s network, system or data and intentionally exceeded or misused that access in a manner negatively affected the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the organization’s information or information systems.” DHS NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AND COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATION CENTER
- 18. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters18 DEFINITION Insider Threat “The insider threat to critical infrastructure is one or more individuals with the access and/or insider knowledge of a company, organization or enterprise that would allow them to exploit the vulnerabilities of that entity’s security, systems, services, products, or facilities with intent to cause harm.” National Infrastructure Advisory Council in their publication, “The Insider Treat to U.S. Critical Infrastructures”
- 19. 19 INSIDER THREAT MITIGATION HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters Detect anomalies as early as possible and investigate before assets, data or personnel are compromised Look beyond cyber security to include potential insider threats related to: • Fraud • Workplace violence • Information technology (IT) sabotage • Intellectual property and research and development theft
- 20. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters20 INSIDER THREATS ARE SELDOM IMPULSIVE ACTS Look for the warning signs as insiders move along a threat continuum from idea to action • Demonstrating a change in behavior or attitude • Violating company policy • Arriving early or staying late • Showing undue interest in information not relevant to job • Attempting access into physical areas not related to job
- 21. 21 LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS OF INSIDER THREAT HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters Companies must establish guidelines on recognizing threat indicators based on behavioral-based techniques 1. Train employees to recognize and report behavioral indicators exhibited by fellow employees or business partners. 2. Ensure training includes how to identify the characteristics of insiders at risk of becoming a threat.
- 22. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters22 CHARACTERISTICS OF INSIDERS AT RISK OF BECOMING A THREAT • Introversion • Greed/financial need • Vulnerability to blackmail • Compulsive and destructive behavior • Rebellious, passive- aggressive • Ethical “flexibility” • Reduced loyalty • Entitlement – narcissism (ego/self-image) • Minimize their mistakes and faults • Inability to assume responsibility • Intolerance to criticism • Self-perceived value exceeds performance • Lack of empathy • Predisposition towards law enforcement • Pattern of frustration and disappointment • History of managing crisis ineffectively
- 23. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters23 FREE ONLINE COURSES DHS/FEMA independent study course, “Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Insider Threats” (IS-915) http://training.fema.gov/ Department of Defense (DoD), “Insider Threat Awareness Course” http://cdsetrain.dtic.mil/itawareness/
- 24. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters24 KEY ISSUES Starting the Conversation 4. Determine the scope of monitoring, recording and reporting on employee online behavior. 5. Establish the parameters of access. 6. Communicate the consequences of abuse to employees. 1. Engage external partners – law enforcement, media, community services and religious experts. 2. Understand the role of technology, social media and internet usage. 3. Identify technology vendors that provide monitoring services.
- 25. HILLARD HEINTZE © 2016 | Protecting What Matters25 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Howard Fisher, Esq. Vice President, Strategic Relationships howard.fisher@hillardheintze.com 312.229.9882 30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1400 Chicago, Illinois 60606 312.869.8500