The Media in the Service of ISIS Propaganda War (original) (raw)
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A critical use of ISIS' use of social media
ISIS’ use of cyberspace has become a noticeable problem in recent years, because of this it is fundamental to understand how they use and exploit social media so state and non-state actors can counter this activity. This dissertation focuses on how ISIS use and exploit social media platforms such as Twitter and Telegram. A secondary data analysis of relevant and recent information was gathered from multiple sources to form a literature review and to compile a list of the core uses of social media by ISIS. Propaganda/ publicity, Recruitment, radicalisation, and Networking/Information where all identified in this dissertation as the core uses of social media. ISIS use certain social media platforms and exploit these websites; however, cyberspace has evolved and ISIS are now using new encrypted messenger apps with which they can have private conversations on alongside Twitter and Facebook. Counter measures have been and are still being put in place to stop this happening. The government has also designed specific strategies such as Prevent and Channel to help social media counter terrorism on their websites. This dissertation increases the reader’s knowledge of terrorists’ use of the internet and exposes the reader to new uses and methods that ISIS have adopted. It also outlines social media and government strategies for countering terrorism online.
ISIS Propaganda and Social Media Strategies
2015
In December 2014, while Western powers were contemplating the use of air strikes against ISIS, New York Times published comments by Major General Michael Nagata, the Special Operations commander for the U.S. in the Middle East, who admitted that he was still trying to understand ISIS. “We have not defeated the idea,” he said. “We do not even understand the idea.” This ‘idea’ partly resides in that fact that terrorism is launched, maneuvered, and magnified disproportionally in the virtual world. In other words, the main weapon is not the physical weapon itself but what is perceived and imagined by the public. Terror is in the eyes of the beholder (audience). As Ayman al-Zawahiri, then al-Qaeda’s second-in-command, wrote to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2005, “We are in a battle, and more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media.” The international fight against terrorism is, ultimately beyond its military dimension, a battle of perception and ideas – a struggle for the attention and minds of global audiences. This essay seeks to ‘understand the idea’ by deconstructing and analyzing ISIS’ media strategies. It will first demonstrate that ISIS utilizes a decentralized model of propaganda through social media platforms effectively, thus producing an extensive, highly fluid stream of information all over the Internet. Second, ISIS’ target audience is global, not only Arabic speakers with Jihadist aspirations (the ‘traditional’ audience targeted by previous Islamic groups). This includes all Muslims and non-Muslims from all cultures, or basically anyone who has Internet access. Third, the essay will analyze the ‘grand-narrative’ of a romanticized Muslim utopia and an imminent apocalypse crafted by ISIS media strategies to recruit globally by making sense of its existence under this worldview. Fourth, the essay will examine ISIS’ desperation to establish historical and religious legitimacy by amplifying its own support base and strength through the media. Finally, this essay will assess the strengths and weaknesses of ISIS’ media strategies, and suggest possible measures to counter them.
2020
Orwa Ajjoub Abstract The Islamic State group (IS) has grabbed the world’s attention as one of the most dangerous and gruesome terrorist organizations in history. The group has been studied from different disciplines such as political science, history, and theology. Michael Krona and Rosemary Pennington’s edited volume, The Media World of ISIS, is an attempt by media studies scholars to explore different aspects and dimensions of the IS usage of media.
Propaganda of Islamic State in the Digital Age
Islamic state has successfully united two well-known but distinct subjects: one is information and communication technologies as well as social networks; another is military jihad. Military and ultra-aggressive jihad performed by Islamic state with unseen excellence creates quasi-syncretic union of religious bigotry and the use of contemporary information technologies. The theoretical foundations of this blend can be associated with military strategic Abu Musab al-Suri and imam, internet-activist Anwar al-Awlaki. Al-Suri’s rejection of hierarchical structure of jihadi organizations and proposal of franchise-based autonomous groups in concordance with al-Awlaki’s emphasis on the usage of contemporary internet technologies (e.g., social networks) makes fertile ground for the emergence of “third-generation jihad” and mass propaganda performed by Islamic state in the internet. The union of jihad and contemporary technologies reflects the distinction of propaganda by Jacques Ellul, namely, vertical and horizontal propaganda, where former corresponds to old-fashioned and latter to contemporary execution of jihadi propaganda. Vertical propaganda functions as hierarchical transfer from top to bottom. Horizontal propaganda, just like al-Suri’s military strategy, is executed in a bottom-top style. Horizontal propaganda lets participators to choose the most appropriate technique in each case and to stay in safety. Thus the propaganda of Islamic state, which presumably has adopted such approach, simultaneously both is and is not chaotic, to wit, it is self-organizing constellation. The lack of centre seriously limits options to quickly and effectively counter the propaganda of Islamic state; however, even more dangerous and warning is the whole system as an example of success. The situation, where contemporary jihad transcends spatial borders, forces to acknowledge that understanding and derogation of Islamic state’s propaganda is as important as the armed struggle. The union of military jihad and contemporary technologies has become mark of an age, namely, it is an expression or a manifestation of the both theoretical ideas and present cultural and ideological situation.
Daesh and the Power of Media and Message
Arab Media & Society, 2021
This paper, as a part of an on-going research project, examines Daesh's media (2014-2017) and seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how Daesh spreads its messages. It focuses on the importance of media as one of the main factors behind Daesh’s power. It also demonstrates that in order to export a powerful self-image to the outside world, Daesh considers media a significant part of Jihad, and consequently perceives the media war as equally, or even more important than the military war. In this process, Daesh relies on its own media to spread its content, while mainstream media enthusiastically release the news relevant to Daesh. Besides studying Daesh’s media, this paper highlights the importance of ‘message’ for Daesh: to present itself as a powerful and a victorious actor, while seeking to portray a weak and coward-like picture of its enemies to the outside world. This paper also examines the group’s communication strategy. https://www.arabmediasociety.com/daesh-and-the-power-of-media-and-message/
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.
As swords and guns were the only decisive weapons of past and played a central role in battles, the media (including, mobile phones, cameras, internet, computer and TV) have become the modern tools and game-changer in war and strategy building. Today, the media has a huge influence on the masses, can convey messages and propaganda, and implant certain ideas into the minds of its viewers. It is no surprise that the terrorist networks are fully aware of the power and authority of media technology and are effectively using it to achieve their goals as well as to reach their targeted audience.
2023
After the capture of the Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014, the Islamic State terrorist group became a global public enemy, but also a source of admiration for the jihadist world and fascination for the academic world for its new and bubbly forms of Communication. Through secular victimization rhetoric (sponsorship of jihad against the enemies of Islam and the Islamic community, plus unparalleled use of technology) the Islamic State entered the global geopolitical debate with a discourse that plays with the feelings of the followers of the religion of Allah and Muhammad. This paper examines, in addition to the exhaustive media coverage from which the terrorist group benefited, the modus operandi of its own media, its structure and how collective mobilization actions are put into practice between the group and its followers on the internet. No terrorist organization that emerged before the Islamic State managed to promote a media model so broad and sophisticated as theirs. This model allowed it to win the popularity race in the sphere of jihadism, which is nothing but the race of impact, influence and iconography, with a clear organization of the messages according to the target audience (according to their geographical, sectarian, cultural origin, etc.) and the segmentation tools offered by the network.
MENA IN FOCUS - The Middle East and North Africa in Focus, 2021
By Ecaterina MAȚOI 1 E ver since the so-called Islamic State (IS) 2 has been in the formation stage as a terrorist organization and it was known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq, its leadership signaled that it was aware of the power of (social) media in fulfilling its goals by recording and posting on different websites violent, and graphic attacks that were carried out by its members on various targets. Approximately ten years later, just after the fall of Mosul in 2014, the same organization has demonstrated an odd type of professionalism in creating almost credible media "products", while benefiting from powerful advertising in media of all types out of the "usual" patterns for a such situation. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to observe through an in-depth historical approach the way in which the so-called Islamic State appeared on the international security and political arena, and what subjects its propaganda apparatus uses to better understand it.