Accused in two terror attacks in India used online payment services, e-commerce platforms and VPNs: FATF report

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has highlighted growing concerns over the use of online platforms, including e-commerce and digital payment services, in facilitating terror-related activities.

In its latest report titled 'Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks,' the global terror watchdog cited key terror incidents in India, including the 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2022 Gorakhnath Temple incident, to emphasise the vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure being exploited for terror financing.

The FATF underscored that both e-commerce portals and online financial tools are increasingly manipulated to raise, move, and manage funds for terror operations. Among its findings, the report also noted the emergence of "state sponsorship" as a significant factor, citing open-source data and inputs that point out "certain terrorist organisations have been and continue to receive financial and other forms of support from several national governments".