Jihadis Online: A Few Thoughts

SOFIR.org - Society For Internet Research ^ | July 5, 2011 | n/a

[Cindy]

SNIPPET: "I. When considering the matter of jihadis online, remember that most of what we think we know is based on analyses of the comments made by an handful of vocal activists. The vast majority of jihadis online, be they on forums or social networking sites[i], say nothing."

SNIPPET: "The real challenge is threat assessment."

SNIPPET: "V. These are questions I ask about any jihadi online:

• Where are they? • Who do they know? • What have they downloaded? • What have they uploaded? • What communities have they joined? • What sites are they involved in operating?

VI. More general questions I ask include:

• Do they know anyone who has been involved in terrorism? • Do they have any history of involvement in crime? • To what extent have they been exposed to violence? • Does their personal history suggest an increased risk of suicide?"

[Cindy]

On The Internet:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2729977/posts

[Cindy]

http://selectedwisdom.com/?tag=cve

#

Blog:

http://selectedwisdom.com/?p=337

“Debates over Extremism on the Internet”

SNIPPET: “Western recruits are more likely to be brought in via the Internet than Middle Eastern and North African recruits because they have higher access to the Internet, less direct contact with AQ militancy in person, and thus need the Internet to build an affinity for and a connection to AQ.”

[Apogee]

I used to know people who donated part of their processing power to SETI - allowing their computer to work in the background looking for signs of non-random, intelligence generated information from space.
I have often thought that a better use of such power would be scanning the internet for jihadi stuff hidden in pictures or wherever.

OTOH, coming to a government near you, a slight redefinition of terrorist and we are all in trouble.