The Phenomenon of ISIS

One approach to addressing the issue of ISIS recruitment and propaganda is through the monitoring of social media platforms. In their study, "The ISIS Twitter Census: Defining and Describing the Population of ISIS Supporters on Twitter," J.M. Berger and Jonathon Morgan analyze the activity of ISIS supporters on Twitter, revealing a stark contrast between suspended and non-suspended accounts. Their findings indicate that 1,995 followers have been suspended, while 969 remain active. Notably, suspended users posted an average of 46.6 tweets per day, compared to just 14.5 tweets per day from their non-suspended counterparts. Despite the reduction in active followers and tweets, a significant number of non-suspended ISIS supporters continue to operate on Twitter, attempting to recruit new members. As ISIS has lost many critical social media accounts, the group has shifted to utilizing educational propaganda as a recruitment tool.

Educational Propaganda as a Recruitment Tool

According to FOX News, Iraqi troops discovered English textbooks at an orphanage in February that were specifically designed to indoctrinate children into ISIS ideology. The textbooks featured disturbing representations of the English alphabet, such as "B is for bomb" and "S is for sniper," alongside images of AK-47s and explosives used in math problems. This educational propaganda has impacted an estimated 1 million children, many of whom have been forced out of traditional schooling to learn ISIS tactics instead. Advanced courses reportedly teach students how to construct suicide bombs and execute beheading techniques.

Michael Steinbach, the ex-Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism division, stated in an interview with ABC News that the U.S. government is 'losing the battle' against ISIS's online presence. He emphasized that although the FBI and other agencies have developed an effective narrative to counter ISIS messaging, the sheer volume of extremist content online significantly overshadows their efforts.

Targeting Disillusioned Americans

ISIS has been actively reaching out to disillusioned Americans who may feel trapped or unable to leave the country. Steinbach noted that ISIS encourages individuals who cannot travel to Syria to carry out attacks in the U.S. or other Western nations. Diego Rodriguez, head of the FBI’s field office in New York, urged community members to identify those who might be susceptible to radicalization, asserting that the FBI cannot combat this issue alone.

David S. Sorenson, a professor of International Security Studies at the U.S. Air War College, proposes that the U.S. government undertake covert information operations aimed at educating foreign populations about the true teachings of Islam. He suggests that such efforts could include the production of movies, comics, and newspapers that portray joining ISIS as a path leading to a 'fiery eternity' rather than paradise. Sorenson believes that this strategy could help bolster the growing opposition to ISIS within European Muslim communities. Most individuals who join ISIS are often poorly educated about the actual teachings of Islam, and providing accurate information could effectively curb recruitment efforts.

The Rise of Lone Wolf Terrorism

Lone wolf terrorists, who act independently without formal affiliation to a terrorist organization, represent a growing concern. These individuals are often radicalized and trained online. Dr. Gabriel Weimann, a Fellow at the Wilson Center and a professor of communication at the University of Haifa, emphasizes that this method of recruitment and attack execution has become increasingly prevalent among ISIS operatives. In response, the New York Police Department has established a Cyber Intelligence Unit that monitors the online activities of suspected extremists and engages with them to assess potential threats. This unit has played a crucial role in several recent terrorism investigations and arrests.

ISIS is widely regarded as one of the most adept terrorist organizations in utilizing social media for recruitment. A March 2015 study by the Brookings Institution revealed that, by the fall of 2014, ISIS supporters were operating at least 46,000 Twitter accounts. While three-quarters of these supporters identified Arabic as their primary language, nearly 20% opted for English. These accounts boasted a higher-than-average number of followers (approximately 1,000 each) and tweets.

Impact of Social Media on ISIS Recruitment

Currently, ISIS controls over 90,000 Twitter accounts, reaching approximately 100 million individuals daily through its social media campaigns. However, efforts to dismantle these accounts raise concerns about infringing upon the rights of American citizens to free expression. Peter Scheer, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, remarked, “Expecting to have free speech on a social network is kind of like expecting you can walk into a church service shouting obscenities.” While individuals have the right to free speech, threats against others cross a line and are not protected under any social media platform's guidelines.

According to 18 U.S. Code 2339B, it is illegal for individuals in the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Material support is broadly defined to include tangible and intangible assets, services, and various forms of assistance. This raises a critical question: do social media platforms, by allowing ISIS members to maintain accounts and disseminate extremist content, violate U.S. law?

Conclusion

Addressing the phenomenon of ISIS requires a multifaceted approach that includes monitoring social media, countering educational propaganda, and understanding the dynamics of lone wolf terrorism. By fostering accurate representations of Islam and countering extremist narratives, it is possible to diminish ISIS's appeal and recruitment capabilities. However, navigating the complexities of free speech and the responsibilities of social media platforms remains a significant challenge in the fight against terrorism.

References:

• Berger, J.M., & Morgan, J. (2015). The ISIS Twitter Census: Defining and Describing the Population of ISIS Supporters on Twitter.
• FOX News. (2023). Iraqi troops find ISIS propaganda in orphanages.
• ABC News. (2023). FBI’s Michael Steinbach discusses the battle against ISIS online.
• Sorenson, D.S. (2023). The Role of Education in Countering ISIS Recruitment.
• Brookings Institution. (2015). ISIS and the use of social media for recruitment.
• U.S. Code Title 18, Section 2339B.