This article explores how counterterrorism knowledge practices affect the groups they study. We argue that these practices typically construct terrorist groups as ontologically stable and organizationally rational, which makes them appear familiar to, and so governable by, counterterrorism organizations. We show that by excluding prevalent local knowledge, Western counterterrorism policy…
This policy paper was produced as part of the project Digital Policy Lab (DPL), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. As part of the DPL, ISD organised working group meetings on the topic of online gender-based violence between May and June 2023. The working group comprised DPL members representing national ministries…
Once lauded for liberating audiences from their passive state by granting voice, the digital public sphere today increasingly resembles a cacophony of disjointed voices datafied for the gain of giant tech firms. Instead of bemoaning the co-optation of users’ activity, we might find it timely to reconsider the possibility that…
This policy paper was produced as part of the project Digital Policy Lab (DPL), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. The responsibility for the content lies exclusively with ISD Germany. The DPL is an inter-governmental working group focused on charting the policy path forward to prevent and counter disinformation, hate and extremism….
Extremist, hate and disinformation actors are increasingly exploiting not just major online platforms, but also a wide range of smaller and medium-sized platforms across the online ecosystem. Over the past 18 months, ISD and CASM Technology have been conducting research, funded by Omidyar Network, aimed at monitoring harmful online activity…
Extremism poses a persistent and signi cant threat for the stability of a nation. It is a complex psychological phenomenon that gradually leads to tangible actions, extending beyond its narrow military aspects. Countering extremism in present digital era requires innovative strategies to e ectively address and prevent it within the…
Video gaming has evolved into a global phenomenon, shaping culture, entertainment, and social interaction. As millions of individuals immerse themselves in digital worlds, it becomes paramount to understand the complex interplay of factors within gaming culture. By examining the toxic undercurrents within some gaming cultures and their potential implications for…
Approximately 300 Americans are estimated to have traveled or attempted to join the Islamic State (ISIS) as part of the group’s campaign in Syria and Iraq between 2013 and 2019. These individuals joined more than 53,000 men, women, and minors from roughly 80 countries. Often referred to as foreign (terrorist)…
This paper provides an overview of how a shifting landscape of youth radicalization is impacting a new generation, key trends in extremist mobilization and the broad range of extremist actors currently targeting young people, with a particular focus on the United States.
Background Data on children who grow up with parents adhering to violent extremism is scant. This makes it extremely delicate to inform policies and clinical services to protect such children from potential physical and psychological harm. Objective This paper explores the predicament of children whose caretakers were referred to a…
Why does one person radicalize to involvement in terrorist violence within a group-based context, while another engages in this form of violence alone? Existing research remains subject to limitations related to sample size, ideological and geographical range, and contradictory findings. This article draws on a newly-developed dataset to compare group-based…
This study investigates the effectiveness of counternarratives in reducing the attractiveness of the jihadi ideology among Sunni Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa. The research design was divided into two phases. Phase 1 involved a) creating a comprehensive list of counternarrative disseminated by three main regional organizations (Antibiotics,…
