Law enforcement and counterterrorism policymakers have to operate in a conflict between real threats and public opinion. For instance, the latter states that domestic terrorism is not viewed as something that should lead to civil liberties restrictions, and those can be interpreted in a broad sense (Carter, 2020). The notion should be considered for the criminal justice approach, which can be likened to how the country combats terrorism in other territories (Carter, 2020). The population’s perception of threat also affects their view on counterterrorism spending, so some resources should be allocated to educating people regarding potential risks to justify the activity’s importance (Liu et al., 2018). Conversely, some demographics might be inclined to see terrorism everywhere, and in the dilemma of reducing the fears or letting citizens panic, the latter might be more financially viable (Mueller & Stewart, 2018). What matters is making the entire population feel safe while striving to preserve their liberties.
Another significant challenge relates to the spread of terrorism in cyberspace. Terrorist organizations recruit American citizens, and the established counter-radicalization programs are not sufficient to deter them (Aistrope, 2016). It happens due to the US’s actions toward foreign countries, making immigrants distrustful of the government (Aistrope, 2016). Some applications and messengers are encrypted and refuse to share their data, increasing the risk of terrorist communication and acts. The issue of tech companies not cooperating with the government also exists (Fishman, 2019). Those discrepancies should be addressed to prevent threats and ensure trust between the two parties.
Aistrope, T. (2016). Social media and counterterrorism strategy. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 70(2), 121–138. Web.
Carter, B. (2020). Bringing suspected terrorists to justice? Revealing bias against Muslims in applied counter terrorism by the U.S. Contemporary Justice Review, 23(4), 444-474. Web.
Fishman, B. (2019). Crossroads: Counter-terrorism and the Internet. Texas National Security Review, 2(2), 83-100. Web.
Liu, X., Mumpower, J. L., Portney, K. E., & Vedlitz, A. (2018). Perceived risk of terrorism and policy preferences for government counterterrorism spending: Evidence from a U.S. National Panel Survey. Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, 10(1), 102-135. Web.
Mueller, J., & Stewart, M. G. (2018). Public opinion and counterterrorism policy. Cato Institute. Web.