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.
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World Events
Afghan Withdrawal
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World Events
While robust policies and legislation on defining terrorism and violent extremism might be in place, it can be difficult to know how definitions apply to major global events. In recent years there have been significant offline events that impact counterterrorism and counter-extremism efforts online. The following key events highlight where global researchers have analyzed the impacts of these moments on the online space, focussing on how terrorist and violent extremist actors are using platforms around these events and where solutions can be found.
Afghan Withdrawal
Geopolitical shifts marked by wars or military action are often strategically used by violent extremist and terrorist groups to feed into narratives around grievances.The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan mirrors this overarching trend through the Taliban’s use of the online space as part of a larger campaign to gain credibility and legitimacy. In depth research showcases a thorough online presence accompanied with supportive social media content converging authoritarian offline realities with online tactical approaches.
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12th October 2022The Taliban’s Use of Twitter as a Tool to Spread their VoiceZafar Iqbal Yousafzai
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08th August 2022Al Qa’ida and Islamic State Supporter Reactions to Zawahiri’s DeathMeili Criezis
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16th August 2021From ‘Night Letters’ to the Internet: Propaganda, the Taliban and the Afghanistan CrisisKabir Taneja