Those of us who have recently had the opportunity to walk the streets of Brussels have witnessed repeated demonstrations in favor of the terrorist group Hamas. Months ago, activists even re-enacted the October 7 massacre during the so-called “Brussels Festival.” In Argentina, at inauguration ceremonies, officials and civil servants took oaths in the name of Palestine rather than the nation, a clear reference to Hamas. Organizations and individuals who demand freedom of expression and the rule of law simultaneously demand armed struggle, subversion and terrorism. It is enough to remember the tragic October 7, 2023 or the recent and dramatic images from Bondi Beach in Australia. Unfortunately, the list is long and deeply painful.
Jews and Catholics are now in the crosshairs. After the attack in 2024, Christmas markets in Germany are under strict security measures as new attacks like those allegedly attempted to thwart in Bavaria could occur.
Nearly two years after the deadly attack on a church in Istanbul claimed by the Islamic State, Christian minorities in many countries around the world are facing discrimination, violence and persecution. From Pakistan to Egypt, through Iran, India, Algeria and China, thousands of Christians suffer from restrictions on religious freedom, sectarian attacks and abusive laws that criminalize their faith.
The social network “X” not only allows open anti-Semitism on its platform, but also monetizes it and generates revenue from content that reaches hundreds of millions of views. On TikTok and Instagram it seems to be allowed to hate someone because of their religion or origin. Anti-Semitism on social media takes several forms: Emojis, memes, comments and reactions. This includes hate speech, incitement to violence, dehumanization, conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial.
In social networks, the argument “freedom of expression” Algorithms are used to manipulate and influence public opinion, For example, the massacre of more than 200 Christians in Nigeria on June 14th and the more than 20,000 deaths recorded in the last decade due to Islamic fundamentalism are invisible.
Technology is now used as an ideological weapon, a powerful catalyst that can permanently reach the population through devices and information available 24/7: emails, WhatsApp, direct messages, Instagram Reels or TikTok. Telegram and other less visible platforms are used extensively as channels for advocacy, statements, dissemination, internal communications, logistics and coordination of operations. Moderation and control are clearly ineffective in these cases.
However, the most complicated thing is yet to come. Technology and cyberspace have become increasingly contentious boundaries in modern conflicts, and the space sector is emerging as a particularly worrisome target. Terrorism knows this and acts accordingly. Hezbollah, Hamas or the nation-state-backed Houthis make intensive use of these resources and understand that space is part of the new digital battlefield. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks aim to cause the collapse of critical systems as well as data leaks, intrusions, ransomware, and website defacement.
Digital anti-Semitism today includes cyberattacks on systems, servers, computers, companies and public and private organizations. direct impact on the civilian population. These attacks also target satellite data transmission and reception systems, as well as air and maritime navigation systems. Although there is still no confirmation of direct attacks on satellites in orbit, attempts have been made to cripple the operations of aerospace and defense companies. Some reports suggest that pro-Palestinian groups have formed alliances with pro-Russian factions, are mimicking aspects of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict plan, and are engaging in DDoS and system defacement campaigns. Reuse proven tools and tactics. The 2022 ViaSat hack in the context of the war in Ukraine demonstrated the devastating potential of cyberattacks on satellite infrastructure, crippling communications at a critical moment.
This scenario represents an alarming symptom that directly challenges the West in the face of future conflict scenarios. The United States and China, both space and cyber superpowers, are expected to conduct cyberattacks against critical space systems, with significant impact on the battlefield. Therefore, these systems have become strategic targets for adversaries. seeking visibility, disruption and structural damage.
Technology and business risk specialist
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