US allies pledge to fight ISIS in cyberspace

Pledging to fight criminals and terrorists in cyberspace with the U.S., two American allies are strengthening their own ties.

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week issued a joint statement vowing to cooperate on bolstering their cyber skills in a region under a growing threat of terrorism from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

{mosads}In a 31-point list India and the UAE issued outlining a plan to counter terrorists in the region, the two countries said they would, “promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention on use of cyber for terrorism, radicalization and disturbing social harmony.”

Authorities have been concerned about ISIS’s savvy use of social media services and online communications channels to recruit foreigners.

Hacking groups claiming affiliation with ISIS have also taken credit for a growing number of hacks across Europe and the U.S. in recent months.

To help combat this threat, the U.S. negotiated new deals with India and the Gulf states in recent months. The agreements pledge to share more data on cybersecurity threats in the region and to swap tactics on pursuing terrorists online.

Last week, top U.S. officials hosted an Indian delegation to discuss combating cyber crime.

And in May, the White House signed a broad security agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council — which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — during talks in Washington. The deal included a section devoted to cybersecurity.

“Those who support terrorism must be on one side and those who believe in humanity on the other,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an audience of Indian immigrants at a cricket stadium in Dubai, the UAE capital, according to The Wall Street Journal. “Those who take the path of bombs and guns to fulfill their dreams won’t achieve anything.”