Terrorist content online
Apart from an act of violence, terrorism is also a form of conveying a message or a manifesto. Terrorists and terrorist organizations use the Internet and social media to promote their activities on a large scale. Even unknowingly sharing and duplicating terrorist content by internet users is in the interests of terrorists.
The perpetrators of the attacks want to arouse fear, demonstrate strength, promote their beliefs and gain supporters. The role of state institutions and citizens is to identify and counteract terrorist propaganda both before, during and after a terrorist event.
Some terrorists post manifestos or film material on the Internet. They generate great interest and are often disseminated further by Internet users, which means that they reach millions of recipients around the world. So it's extremely important to remove or report this type of content quickly.
The video from the terrorist attack in Christchurch, recorded by the perpetrator, was shared by internet users several million times!
Media and information material relating to terrorism and terrorist attacks should also not be duplicated and disseminated on the Internet. The ABW’s TP CoE recommends not to display the personal data of the perpetrators, as very often media coverage is one of their main goals.
Irresponsible duplication of terrorist content can contribute to attempts to imitate terrorists' actions by people who are prone to radicalization or mentally unstable.
The role of strategic communication in terrorist prevention
Strategic communication is a way of communicating information in order to achieve a previously assumed result. The principles of strategic communication are used not only by state institutions and media entities, but also by terrorists and terrorist organizations.
Proper communication by state institutions and the media is extremely important, both before, during and after the occurrence of terrorist events. In this respect, it is necessary to consolidate all entities responsible and involved in conducting media policy.
Without appropriate cooperation in this area it will not be possible, using an effective counter-narrative in response to terrorist propaganda content that appears in public space. Fast and reliable information and warning in the event of terrorist events may also constitute a challenge.
Publicity drives terrorism.
Stop. Don't promote!
We invite you to see the video material on reacting to terrorist content on the Internet, prepared by the TP CoE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaX3Xf0gu8g
The film is a part of the e-learning training in the field of terrorist prevention, which TP CoE conducts through the launched in May this year. e-learning portal (www.learning.tpcoe.gov.pl) for state services and institutions.