Social Media and Information Warfare: Knowledge, Organisation, and Radicalisation (original) (raw)
Related papers
2020
The drastic advances in digital and communication technologies have acted as the pillars of our modern society, by governing the dynamics of cyberspace and providing endless opportunities for connecting people via deflating concepts such as time and distance. Alongside with the Internet, mass media and social media outlets have facilitated the processes of globalization, removing any previously perceived geographical barriers. Yet, the very same mechanisms, which have transformed our community and have catalyzed socio-economic and political movements, have also been recognized by terrorist organizations and exploited in the pursuit of their objectives. From the expansion of extremist groups and their worldwide recruitment policies, it has become evident that the threat of terrorism is not restricted to its region of origin anymore. The mass use of Internet and social media has obscured the borders of extremism and has imposed an undeniable menace to global peace. Modern technologies have moved forward groups’ objectives and accelerated the process of radicalization. Information sharing has assisted in the dissemination of extremist beliefs across the globe at a faster pace and has appeared as an important tool in the radicalization of individuals and their subsequent recruitment as terrorists. Owing to the accessibility, availability, affordability, and wide reach of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube and Telegram, terrorist organizations have progressively taken advantage of these platforms to convey their agenda and achieve their goals.
Cyber-Extremism: Isis and the Power of Social Media
Society, 2017
The current crises in Syria has led to a number of Britons travelling abroad to fight with groups such as Isis. Capitalising on this growth, Isis are now increasingly fighting an online cyber war, with the use of slick videos, online messages of hate and even an app that all aim to radicalise and create a new generation of cyber jihadists. These modern day tools are helping Isis spread their propaganda and ideology to thousands of online sympathisers across the world. Indeed, the group has actively been using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to recruit new would be members. This is being done through images and the streaming of violent online viral videos filmed and professionally edited that are targeting young and impressionable people. Portraying a glamorised and 'cool' image, Isis fighters are beginning to act as the new rock stars of global cyber jihad. The Internet therefore is becoming the virtual playground for extremist views to be reinforced and act as an echo chamber. This study analysed 100 different Facebook pages and 50 Twitter user accounts which generated over 2050 results and helped the author create a typology of seven key behaviour characteristics and motivations. The findings in this study confirmed the author's original hypothesis, i.e. online hate is being used by groups such as Isis for a variety of reasons such as recruitment and propaganda. Moreover, this material is coordinated and controlled by Isis as a means for publishing and sending out key messages.
How Domestic Extremist Groups Use Social Media to Advance Their Ideologies
2019
The purpose of this research is to examine how domestic extremist groups utilize social media platforms to advance their extremist ideologies. Domestic extremist groups have continued to grow at a high rate as they have transitioned their operations to cyberspace. Social media platforms have proven to be an effective tool in the increase of the radicalization and recruitment of domestic extremists. Cyberspace has allowed extremists to promote and distribute propaganda, as well as advance their ideologies through online forums and chatrooms. Since extremists have successfully infiltrated and utilized online platforms, agencies are struggling to identify and manage extremist activities. Results from this research show agencies are not well equipped and are lacking the policies and procedures needed to successfully combat domestic terrorists. There is no black and white definition of domestic terrorism, no defined laws for prosecution, and little understanding of the posed threats the United States face today from domestic terrorists. From this research we can conclude as domestic terrorism continues to evolve the United States efforts to combatting these threats must evolve too.
Terrorist Online Propaganda and Radicalisation: Special Issue Introduction
The Internet is a transformative technology that terrorists are exploiting for spreading propaganda and radicalising new recruits. While al-Qaeda has a longer history, Islamic State is conducting a modern and sophisticated media campaign centered around online social networking. This article introduces and contextualizes the contributions to this Special Issue by examining some of the ways in which terrorists make use of the Internet as part of their broader media strategies. This is the original, submitted version of a manuscript subsequently accepted for publication (on 2 November 2015), and now forthcoming in the Taylor & Francis journal Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=uter20#.VoD-GzY\_Wu4
The “Electronic Jihad”-How Social Media are Used for Disseminating Terrorist Propaganda
Me.Dok journal, 2020
Communication technology and social media in particular have a decisive effect on expanding the global community of terrorist organizations. More than any other terrorist group in history, the Islamic State organization (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) has made the most of social networks to increase its eff orts and achieve its violent goals. The Europol study shows that about 150 diff erent social media platforms have been used by this terrorist organization as a means of recruiting and to spread propaganda using high quality videos and other media. The term “electronic jihad” was launched by Professor Martin Rudner, a researcher at Carleton University. The clear components of this electronic jihad are propaganda, misinformation, subversion, and the attempt to destroy the moral values of the Western world.
Social Media in the Modern Security Environment #jihad: Understanding Social Media as a Weapon
Two of the papers from the Social Media and the Spectrum of Modern Conflict conference are included as articles in this edition. Levi J. West from Charles Sturt University examines how terrorist groups use social media to encourage violent action by radicalised individuals in the West. Andy Ruddock, from Monash University, considers modern media-military relations in the era of WikiLeaks. The remaining three conference papers are included as slightly shorter commentary pieces. Sean Childs argues that social media needs to be used to defend and enhance soldier morale. Sharyn Rundle-Thiele and Renata Anibaldi argue that for violent extremism, marketing processes might be used to shift social media efforts 'from defence to attack'. Jason Logue reviews recent Western military use of social media, and contrasts this with the savvy and proactive efforts of terrorist adversaries. This issue also includes a commentary piece by Graeme Dobell, a journalist fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. In his piece, Graeme examines how the prominence of certain countries and key concepts has differed in each of Australia's seven Defence White Papers.
Information warfare beyond Daesh
This paper examines the nature of today’s information warfare, as much as it relates to online propaganda, by reflecting on how it operates across different agencies. It considers not only how information warfare translates into the strategy of radical insurgency groups but also the extent to which policy-makers and state-owned media engage with it by positioning themselves in relation to the fight against terrorism and emerging forms of radicalisation. Finally, it introduces a discussion on how this issue may be framed to build and maintain the legitimacy of political elites in the aftermath of the 2011 uprisings, incidentally pulling the once-politicised youth away from the mainstream political sphere.
Social media as a source of radicalization
Pakistan Journal for Terrorism Research, 2022
Since its inception Pakistan has been confronted with multiple internal and external security challenges, however, the post-9/11 attacks scenario further complicated the landscape of religious extremism, radicalization and terrorism. The surge in terrorism in Afghanistan brought spillover effects of the War on Terror on Pakistan and experienced a transition from old to new terrorism, where extremist organizations incorporate internet to disseminate propaganda, generate funds and recruit & train people. This study integrates the media dependency theory to understand social media, dark web and radicalization nexus. Furthermore, the study investigates radicalization through social media by terrorist organizations in Pakistan with the help of case studies of Noureen Jabbar Laghari and Bushra Cheema. Five ways to counter radicalization in Pakistan have been suggested including a counternarrative on social media, content analysis of the data on the internet, curriculum and Madrassa reforms, peace education and use of technical software such as eGLYPH to quickly remove radical data from social media. Lastly, the research attempts to contribute to counter-radicalization by combining the media dependency model and ideas for counterradicalization as the dependency model elaborates on the impact of mass media content on the audience.
Mc Graw Hill, 2023
Even though every society attempts to set its own criteria for identification, relationship and coexistence, human beings have never lived in such a dispersed environment. Starting with the control exerted by politics and religion throughout the Middle Ages, followed by the light shed by the Renaissance and up to the beginning of the Modern Society, decision-making lay in the hands of experienced and knowledgeable people of a certain age. Later on, in the 21st century, technology has disrupted the established standards and allowed citizens to take control of institutions. This is already a radical change in political systems and, consequently, in society itself. The advent and consolidation of “digitalization”, due to the importance of the Internet, social media and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI), have had an impact on the worrisome radicalization processes experienced worldwide. This is because the Internet and, more specifically, social media became a sort of new agora, or public space, where young people identify with their peers –through doctrines and ideologies– and differentiate themselves from others. The social media has thus become the current space for social expression of diversity, a place to recognize differences and to advocate for inclusion in all spheres of society. However, different factors, such as alleged anonymity, have turned the digital space into the perfect scenario to promote and disseminate stereo-types and prejudices, hate speech, radicalization and violent extremism, among others. In this context, concern arises about the development of AI without the necessary ethical values considering the potential of this technology to promote hatred, racism and discrimination. This paper argues that the Internet, social media and AI are, therefore, an important field of application and study as they are one of the main hubs where hate speech is generated and disseminated, and analyzes how to curb these harmful phenomena that, although not new, are actually being absorbed by digital technologies. (Pags. 125-142). RECOMMENDED CITATION: Marcos-Recio, J.C. & Flores-Vivar, J.M. (2023) Social Media Contributes to Radicalization. How to Prevent its Expansion? En: Understanding Radicalization in Everyday Life (Edits.) Fabbri, L. & Melacarne, C. pp. 125-142. McGraw-Hill Education (Italy).