Evolving Threat Landscapes: A Multi-faceted Diagnosis Model for Countering Digital-Age Menaces to Vulnerable Targets
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In an era of increasing digital interconnectedness, the vulnerability of public spaces—or 'soft targets'—has expanded from the physical to the digital realm, giving rise to the complex phenomenon of the 'e-threat'. Traditional security paradigms are often ill-equipped to address these diffuse, data-driven menaces that exploit the convergence of our online and offline lives. This paper introduces a multi-faceted diagnostic model designed to navigate this evolving landscape. Our framework is built upon the critical triangulation of three interconnected planes: a theoreticalplane that conceptualizes the nature of modern threats; an empirical plane that leverages artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics for proactive detection; and a crucial normative plane that embeds ethical principles, human rights, and legal frameworks at the core of any technological application. By analysing the tension between technological capabilities and societal values — drawing on real-world initiatives like the APPRAISE Project with MARPLE — this work argues that effective security is not a zero-sum game. Ultimately, the model demonstrates that safeguarding soft targets against digital-age menaces requires a holistic synergy between technological innovation and an unwavering commitment to democratic governance and the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring a future that is both safe and free.
Authors: Sonia Morgado, Margarida Carvalho, Sérgio Felgueiras
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4413215404