Violent extremists are fighting the battle of the ‘weak against the strong’. They are indeed in an asymmetric warfare and therefore need all the means available to further their cause, including the online space. They rely on it to threaten or intimidate their enemies; mobilise their followers; amplify their actions; announce their strategy; provide tactical and operational advice; recruit and socialise. It is, therefore, crucial for them to be present online. But this weak vs. strong battle also has its significance in the online space, the strong being the authorities, the platforms themselves (moderation team, AI) or several organisations such as Tech Against Terrorism or GIFCT, and the civil society sometimes acting as ‘vigilantes’. This is the reason why violent extremists actually do consider the media as a ‘battlefield’, sometimes referring to it as a form of combat.
Author: Laurence Bindner
This paper was presented at the 4th conference of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) Advisory Network on terrorism and propaganda, 14-15 March 2023, at Europol Headquarters, The Hague. The views expressed are the authors’ own and do not necessarily represent those of Europol.
Downloads
Tags
- Other