Contextual
Resources

Once a government or tech company develops a definition of terrorism or violent extremism, it can be difficult to know how to apply these definitions to the variety of ways that terrorism and violent extremism manifests internationally and across online spaces.

This section of the site aims to highlight contextual resources on themes related to applying definitions to the online space.  GIFCT funds the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) to bring forward actionable insights from experts and practitioners around the world to better inform and give context to tech companies, governments, practitioners and other stakeholders in this field. Insights are curated here under context-based themes.

Filters

Ideology

Ideologically motivated violent groups and movements take different forms in different parts of the world. In a post-9/11 framework, and particularly since the rise of ISIS, most terrorist studies and counter-extremism work have focussed on Islamist extremist groups. However, we also see modern trends of groups associated with white supremacy and neo-Naziism, misogyny-based violent extremist groups often referred to as being part of the “incel” community, far-left groups, and neo-nationalist groups such as the Hindutva movement and Buddhist extremist groups in Asia. Across international far-right violent extremist trends we see an increase in violence inducing conspiracy theory networks, including new trends revolving around anti-vaccination movements and even anti-5G movements that have an effect on technology companies.

Far-Right

Insights can aid in contextualizing the overall ideology and diversity of groups implied by the term “Far-Right”. Relevant research focusing on the Far-Right and White Supremacy present useful explorations of how groups have attempted to exploit and sometimes been deplatformed by platforms, along with wider exposés on global online far right activity. Additionally, available research hones in on particular groups such as QAnon, the Proud Boys, amongst others.

  • 20th October 2021
    The Persistence of QAnon on Mainstream Social Media
    Dr. Gerard Gill
  • 12th October 2021
    Sociocracy: How Far Would the Survivalist Movements go to Evade the Establishment?
    Dr. Chamila Llyange
  • 08th October 2021
    “Digital Soldier Reporting for Duty”: Far-Right Reactions to Major App Outages
    Sara Aniano
  • 04th October 2021
    Between Real and Virtual: Far-Right Mobilisation Strategies in Eastern Europe
    Dr. Manuela Caiani
  • 30th September 2021
    “He Looks Like a Clown”: Why is the Far-Right Mocking Fascists on Reddit?
    Barbara Molas
  • 27th September 2021
    Using Text Analysis to Visualise a Neo-Nazi Leadership Change
    Dr. Gerard Gill
  • 23rd September 2021
    From Direct Action to Terrorism: Canadian Radical Right Narratives and Counter-Narratives at a Time of Volatility
    Dr. William Allchorn
  • 21st September 2021
    The Potential Effects of COVID-19 on Radicalisation to Violent Extremism
    Dr. Garth Davies, Edith Wu and Dr. Richard Frank
  • 17th September 2021
    Reddit’s Hosting Service and the Dangers of Outlinking
    Barbara Molas

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