Hillard Heintze Radicalization in the Workplace

Radicalization
in the
Workplace

HILLARD HEINTZE © 2018 | Protecting What Matters 2
ORIGINS: WHY THE EXECUTIVE CONCERN?
"We are witnessing, in my view, a change in the
nature of mass shootings in the U.S. No longer
are they solely defined by a single, isolated
aggrieved shooter but a shooter or shooters
embedded in, justified by and potentially
supported by an ongoing ideological
framework.”
ALAN J. LIPMAN, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

ORIGINS: WHY THE SPOTLIGHT NOW?
A marked rise in executive concerns
Increasing
focus on
workplace
violence
and active
shooter
prevention
Recent terror
events in
Europe and
Turkey – and
in the U.S.,
from San
Bernardino
to the Navy
Yard
Media
spin,
opinion
and frenzy
Politics
and the
U.S.
election
process
Complexity
of the
issues –
from
privacy to
religious
expression
Overlapping
executive
responsibilities
– Security, HR,
Legal, IT, Law
Enforcement

4
Radicalization cuts across many areas
So where exactly does threatening
behavior related to radicalization fit in?
HILLARD HEINTZE © 2018 | Protecting What Matters
• Workplace violence
• Substance abuse
• Hostile work environment
• Criminal activity
• Inappropriate behavior
• Sexual harassment

DEFINITION
Radicalization
“Radicalization is a personal process in which individuals
adopt extreme political, social and/or religious ideals
and aspirations, and where the attainment of particular
goals justifies the use of indiscriminate violence. It is
both a mental and emotional process that prepares and
motivates an individual to pursue violent behavior.”
Source: A. S. Wilner and C. J. Dubouloz, "Homegrown terrorism and transformative learning:
an interdisciplinary approach to understanding radicalization," GlobalChange, Peace & Security
(formerly Pacifica Review: Peace, Security & Global Change) 22:1 (2010): 38.

What Security and HR leaders are saying
• “Duty of care” obligates
companies to keep the employee
population fully informed
regarding ALL potentially
threatening behaviors and,
conversely, behaviors that may
require tolerance in the
workplace as well as reporting.
• Radicalization falls into a subset of
workplace violence behaviors.
• Awareness training should be provided
to employees regarding radicalization
and orientations.
• Accommodations for particular non-
threatening belief practices should be
considered and established.

The spectrum of potential behavior
that could be “radicalized” should be
broadened to include:
• Gun rights
• Abortion
• Racism
• Animal rights
• Religious extremism
• Ultra right-wing activism
• Ultra left-wing activism
• Environmental activism

ACCOUNTABILITY:
OVERLAPPING AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
CATEGORIES
• Workplace Violence
• Hostile Work Environment
• Criminal Behavior
• Cyber
• Sexual Harassment
• Substance Abuse
• Inappropriate Behavior
STAKEHOLDERS
• Security
• HR
• Legal
• IT
• Law Enforcement
ACTIONS
• Document
• Employee Assistance
Program
• Confront
• Report to Law Enforcement
• Counsel
• Personal Action

MANIFESTATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Radicalization can manifest itself as:
• A violent, aggressive, selfless act conducted on a
random target, with encouragement, enabling and
logistical support from an identifiable segment of an
organization that has hijacked or bastardized a goal.
• The result of an openly stated goal or purpose of an
organization or body.

PATHS TO RADICALIZATION
Disciples may be radicalized
through exposure to:
• A narrow indoctrination path.
• No outside contrary opinions.
• The inevitability of a catastrophic
event as the likely outcome.

11
Violent Extremist
Person who advocates, is engaged
in or is preparing to engage in
ideologically motivated terrorist
activities (including providing
support to terrorism) to further
political or social objectives
promoted by a foreign terrorist
organization (FTO).
THREATS: THREE TYPES OF ATTACKERS

12
Homegrown Violent Extremist (HVE)
A U.S. person who was once assimilated into,
but who has rejected the cultural values, beliefs
and environment of the U.S. in favor of a
violent extremist ideology.
He or she is “U.S. radicalized” and intends to
commit terrorism inside the U.S. without direct
support or direction from a foreign terrorist
organization.

Domestic Terrorist
Person who engages in unlawful acts of violence to
intimidate civilian populations or attempt to
influence domestic policy (as opposed to furthering
the aims of a foreign terrorist organization) without
direction from or influence by a foreign actor.
Examples include acts by racist, supremacist,
antigovernment, environmental, animal rights or
other single-issue extremist groups or movements.

14
A sampling of lessons the U.S. intelligence
community is gleaning from recent events
• Radicalization increases the likelihood of violence.
• Individuals and groups follow different paths to violence.
• Multiple factors indicate why some choose terrorist violence.
• A one-factor approach to intervention will fail.
• Factor importance varies across cases and circumstances.
• Some factors serve as catalysts for others and can
trigger a chain of events.
INSIGHTS: FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF RADICALIZATION

DRIVERS: FACTORS THAT INCREASE AN INDIVIDUAL’S VULNERABILITY
Personal
Factors
Group
Factors
Community
Factors
Sociopolitical
Factors
Ideological
Factors
• Psychological
• Demographic
backgrounds
• Personal
history
• Social
networks
• Family and
peer groups
• Group
dynamics
• Alienation
• Marginalization
• Diaspora
relationships
with home
country
• Collective
grievances
• Foreign policy
• External
events
• Appeal of
justifying
narrative
• Charismatic
ideologues

MOBILIZATION
A Portfolio of Indicators
Other Indicators (Sampling)
• Preparing and disseminating a last
will, martyrdom video or statement.
• Seeking help from family and
friends to enable travel to join
terrorist groups overseas.
• Planning or attempting to travel
to a conflict zone to fight with or
support an FTO.
• Seeking religious or political
justification for violent acts.
• Employing counter-
surveillance techniques.
• Establishing suspicious
travel patterns.
• Deleting social media and
other online accounts to
avoid tracking by law
enforcement.
• Suspicious acquisition of
maps or blueprints.

DEFINITION
Workplace Insider Threats
“A current or former employee, contractor or other business
partner who has or had access to an organization’s network,
system or data and intentionally exceeded or misused that
access in a manner negatively affected the confidentiality,
integrity, or availability of the organization’s information or
information systems.”
DHS NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AND COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATION CENTER

DEFINITION
Insider Threat
“The insider threat to critical infrastructure is one
or more individuals with the access and/or insider
knowledge of a company, organization or enterprise
that would allow them to exploit the vulnerabilities
of that entity’s security, systems, services, products,
or facilities with intent to cause harm.”
National Infrastructure Advisory Council in their publication,
“The Insider Treat to U.S. Critical Infrastructures”

19
INSIDER THREAT MITIGATION
Detect anomalies as early as possible
and investigate before assets, data or
personnel are compromised
Look beyond cyber security to include
potential insider threats related to:
• Fraud
• Workplace violence
• Information technology (IT) sabotage
• Intellectual property and research and
development theft

INSIDER THREATS ARE SELDOM IMPULSIVE ACTS
Look for the warning signs as insiders move
along a threat continuum from idea to action
• Demonstrating a change in
behavior or attitude
• Violating company policy
• Arriving early or staying late
• Showing undue interest in
information not relevant to job
• Attempting access into physical
areas not related to job

21
LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS OF INSIDER THREAT
Companies must establish guidelines
on recognizing threat indicators based
on behavioral-based techniques
1. Train employees to recognize and report
behavioral indicators exhibited by fellow
employees or business partners.
2. Ensure training includes how to identify the
characteristics of insiders at risk of becoming
a threat.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSIDERS AT RISK OF BECOMING A THREAT
• Introversion
• Greed/financial need
• Vulnerability to blackmail
• Compulsive and destructive
behavior
• Rebellious, passive-
aggressive
• Ethical “flexibility”
• Reduced loyalty
• Entitlement – narcissism
(ego/self-image)
• Minimize their mistakes
and faults
• Inability to assume
responsibility
• Intolerance to criticism
• Self-perceived value exceeds
performance
• Lack of empathy
• Predisposition towards law
enforcement
• Pattern of frustration and
disappointment
• History of managing crisis
ineffectively

FREE ONLINE COURSES
DHS/FEMA independent study course,
“Protecting Critical Infrastructure
Against Insider Threats” (IS-915)
http://training.fema.gov/
Department of Defense (DoD),
“Insider Threat Awareness Course”
http://cdsetrain.dtic.mil/itawareness/

KEY ISSUES
Starting the Conversation
4. Determine the scope of monitoring, recording
and reporting on employee online behavior.
5. Establish the parameters of access.
6. Communicate the consequences of
abuse to employees.
1. Engage external partners
– law enforcement,
media, community
services and religious
experts.
2. Understand the role of
technology, social media
and internet usage.
3. Identify technology
vendors that provide
monitoring services.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Howard Fisher, Esq.
Vice President, Strategic Relationships
howard.fisher@hillardheintze.com
312.229.9882
30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1400
Chicago, Illinois 60606 312.869.8500

Hillard Heintze Radicalization in the Workplace

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Hillard Heintze Radicalization in the Workplace