The Origins of Terrorism in Russia and the Specifics of Its Prevention in the Conditions of the Digitization of the Society

Based on the history of terrorism, its concept and methods of counteracting it in Russia, the authors research the problems of an active incorporation of modern information-telecommunication technologies in all spheres of social life, manifested in the emergence of considerable risks and threats to public safety. These technologies are analyzed as a means that provides terrorists with extra opportunities for involving new people in their criminal activities, for radicalization, illegal financing, creation of an attractive image of terrorism, new ways of committing, planning, organizing and coordinating terrorist groups in a remote mode, as well as for the collection and transfer of information, etc. These technologies are studied as a powerful instrument of manipulating public conscience and behavior that can effectively influence the public opinion and create a public image of the all-powerfulness of terror. The goal of this research is to study the concept of terrorism, its history in Russia, its causes and conditions, as well as to provide theoretical recommendations for its prevention. The method of content analysis of the works of Russian and foreign authors is used to achieve this goal. The key results of this work consist in identifying the causes of the emergence and spread of terrorism at different historical stages, as well as the system of informational counteraction to terrorism. The authors conclude that counteracting terrorism in the conditions of digitization through a prohibition of internet content with unlawful information is not fully possible and that such counteraction should be aimed at influencing the world view and legal conscience of people to eliminate the support for terrorism. The novelty of the work consists in the authors’ identification of the causes of terrorism, the development of suggestions aimed at counteracting terrorism in the conditions of the digitization of criminality and presented as various projects and actions that should be implemented on the territory of the whole country.