The 21st century has seen a massive technological advancement in all spheres of live and with it grew the social media. Starting with Facebook in 2003, the internet exploded with closed linked platforms and open web launches which made the world smaller.
But freedom came at a price. It costs privacy, data breaches and lives. Social media outrage gained roots for Mujaheddin, Al-Qaida, and many more.
Al-Qaeda is considered one of the terrorist groups that make the most use of social media. Brian Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the Rand Corporation, commented on Al Qaeda's dominant presence on the Web:
While almost all terrorist organizations have websites, Al Qaeda is the first to fully utilize the Internet. This reflects the unique characteristics of al-Qaeda. It is considered a global movement and therefore depends on a global communication network to reach its perceived constituents. He sees his mission not only in creating terror among his enemies, but in awakening the Muslim community. Its leaders consider communication to be 90 percent of the battle. Despite the risks involved in the intense manhunt, its leaders regularly communicate using video and audio messages posted on its website and circulated on the Internet. The number of websites dedicated to the al-Qaeda-inspired movement has grown from a handful to reportedly thousands, although many are ephemeral.[13]
According to Rob Wainwright, author of "Fighting Crime and Terrorism in the Age of Technology," ISIS used more than a hundred sites to spread its message.
This shows how much social media is used by terrorist groups. The well-known terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, also translated as ISIS, is using the widespread news on social media to its advantage, posting threatening videos of beheadings.
As of November 16, 2014, following the beheading of former US Army guard Peter Kassig, there have now been five recorded executions of Westerners captured in Syria.
James Foley, David Cawthorne Haines, Alan Henning and Steven Sotloff are also among the men kidnapped and executed by ISIS. Videos of brutal beheadings are posted on the ISIS internet, where anyone can view them at will, and sent as threats to government officials. Posting executions online gives terrorist groups the power to manipulate viewers and cause confusion among the watching population,[15] and the videos have the ability to instill fear in the Western world. The videos are typically of high production quality and generally show the entire gruesome act, with the hostages saying a few words before being killed on camera.
In the case of American aid worker Peter Kassig, his video did not show the actual act of beheading and he did not give any final words before his execution.[14] His silence and the fact that the actual execution was not included in the video raised the question of his video being different from the others.[16] In response to Kassig's beheading, his family expressed a wish that the news media avoid doing what the group wants by refraining from publishing or distributing the video.[16] By refusing to release the video of the beheading, he therefore loses the ability to manipulate Americans or support the cause of a terrorist group.[16]
In addition to videos of beheadings, ISIS has released videos of its members performing non-violent acts. For example, Imran Awan described one such case in his article
"Cyber extremism: Isis and the power of social media",
where one video showed members of the Islamic State helping people and visiting hospitals. These videos gave the members of the terrorist group a humanistic nature and therefore contradicted what civilians think terrorist groups should be.
In his article "The Reception of Broadcast Terrorism: Recruitment and Radicalisation", Edgar Jones mentioned that ISIS used documentaries and even their own magazine Dabiq to recruit new members and deliver their message to the public. This illustrates just a few of the different media that ISIS used.
According to Wainwright, social media is also being used by ISIS and other terrorist groups to recruit strangers to join the terrorist cause. In some cases, these new recruits are sent back to their home country to carry out terrorist attacks. Others who cannot physically move to the terrorist cause have been known to carry out acts of terrorism in their own countries because of the propaganda they are exposed to online.
This shows how ISIS can brainwash or expand the thoughts that individuals can have.
The Taliban has been active on Twitter since May 2011 and has more than 7,000 followers. Tweeting under the handle @alemarahweb, the Taliban tweets frequently, almost hourly on some days. This account is currently suspended.
In December 2011, the Somalia-based terrorist cell Al-Shabab was found to be using a Twitter account under the name @HSMPress. Since opening on December 7, 2011, the account has amassed tens of thousands of followers and tweets frequently.
Any attempts to curb this has been smashed by big powerful men like Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg as it would restrict the zillion dollar data trade racket in the Sofware market.
Data builds - Data sells - Data kills
Love the artwork!!