Terrorists using Twitter, Facebook to spread propaganda, recruit would
THEY shoot video as they shoot people, teach people how to make bombs and recruit those willing to die for their cause. For terrorists, social media is fast becoming one of their biggest weapons.As the jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) rampages through Iraq, posting graphic images on Twitter of what appear to be mass executions, Twitter is scrambling to block their posts.
The micro-blogging site has already shut down a number of the social media-savvy group's accounts, but this hasn't stopped them publishing numerous images of dead or captured Iraqis.
ISIS is not the first group to use social media, and Twitter in particular.
Terrorists are increasingly using the site for the same reasons most other use the site - for the quick, easy, mass distribution of information and opinions.
'Twitter has recently emerged as terrorists' favorite Internet service, even more popular than self-designed websites or Facebook, to disseminate propaganda and enable internal communication,' notes author Gabriel Weimann in his report New Terrorism and New Media.
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When the militant group al-Shabaab launched an attack on Nairobi's Westgate Mall in September last year, the first the world new of their involvement was their tweet claiming responsibility.
An account belonging to the Somali-base al-Qaeda offshoot gave a live commentary of their attack, which killed 61 people.
It started with a simple post: 'The Mujahideen ('holy warriors') entered Westgate mall today at around noon and they are still inside the mall, fighting the Kenyan kuffar ('infidels') inside their own turf.'
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In his report Weimann notes that terror groups have moved their online presence away from traditional websites and towards social media.
'Terrorists have good reasons to use social media,' he writes.
'First, these channels are by far the most popular with their intended audience, which allows terrorist organisations to be part of the mainstream. Second, social media channels are user-friendly, reliable, and free.
'Finally, social networking allows terrorists to reach out to their target audiences and virtually 'knock on their doors' - in contrast to older models of websites in which terrorists had to wait for visitors to come to them.'
He notes that several terror organisations have Facebook pages through which they reach out to would-be jihadists and direct them to their teachings.
They also post instructional videos on bomb making on YouTube and use the video sharing platform to upload messages from their leaders.
In 2008, Middle East terror organisation Hamas started their own version of YouTube - AqsaTube - to share their propaganda videos.
Some Instagram accounts feature posts glorifying terror masterminds including Osama Bin Laden.
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Experts also believe social networks are being used to coordinate and plan terror attacks with an explosion of cheap mobile phone giving terrorists access to immediate location information.
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where terrorists used GPS tracking, Google Earth satellite imagery and mobile updates from commanders to help track down foreigners and carry out their attacks according to Weimann.
Evan Kohlmann of Flashpoint Global Partners, a New York-based security consultancy firm, noted previously that social media had become a recruiting ground for would-be jihadists.
'They are seeking advice, assistance and material support online and many times, they find it,' he said.
'The online network for these guys is more important than nationality, tribe or ethnicity. These connections are becoming the glue that ties terrorist networks together.'
Earlier this week, Britons fighting for ISIS made a series of threats against the UK and western nations, The Times reported.
The jihadists, who hail from English cities such as Portsmouth and Birmingham, suggested attacks during the UK general elections, 'killing sprees' upon their return home, and a wave of 9/11-style attacks.
The British recruits have been able to freely travel to the Middle East, usually via a cheap flight to Turkey where they are met by and escort and taken over the border.
Charles Lister from the Brookings Institution in Doha told The Times Britons were 'almost certainly' fighting in Iraq with ISIS.
'This latest offensive has included a great deal of co-ordination with forces based in eastern Syria and the exchange of resources makes it nearly inevitable that British nationals will have been involved.'
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