Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses - RESILIENCE AND DIVERSITY OF TERRORIST SOCIAL MEDIA PROPAGANDA

This is largely due to the decentralised and fragmented methods of distribution of online content, the anonymous nature of comments and contributors, the intricacies of localised narratives, and the challenges posed by stringent moderation and security measures on mainstream platforms. [...] For example, the arrest of a key Al-Faris Media member and the takedown of his content resulted in a significant decrease in the footprint of the outfit’s content within the region, as they had to migrate to unregulated channels.56 This can be juxtaposed with the circulation of raw IS Central content, which can be disseminated by pro-IS supporters even if they do not possess content production cap. [...] Despite the Taliban’s infiltration of ISK’s social media channels and the launch of the multilingual Al-Mirsaad counternarrative initiative, the latter persists in the digital sphere. [...] Terrorist groups use propaganda not just for publicity and communication, but also for recruitment and financing.3 The Internet and the advent of social media have revolutionised terrorist propaganda by lowering the entry barriers to terrorism, bridging the recruiters-recruits gap and accelerating the decentralised information flow.4 In the context of terrorism and counter terrorism, the digital w. [...] The Rise in Far-Right Extremist Attacks on Critical Infrastructure The recent wave of critical infrastructure attacks across Western societies can be traced back to 2020, coinciding with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising prominence of the extreme far-right.