Islamic State's Social Media Strategy

The Islamic State militant group (IS) is fighting on many fronts against those seeking to defeat it. One of those fronts is a digital one.

IS puts media warfare on a par with its battle on the ground and often glorifies "media martyrs" - people who are killed while creating videos and other digital content for the group. 

Like many other such groups, IS has been an enthusiastic user of social media and the web, broadcasting propaganda about its successes and using it as a recruitment tool.

Although a long-time user of social media, IS activities took a significant turn in September 2015 when the group's official media outlets took to the messaging app Telegram. The move to the encrypted messaging service came after a long-running conflict with Twitter, which regularly shut down IS accounts, and some experimentation with less well-known platforms from which it was also expelled.

The timing was significant because that was the moment when Telegram set up the "channel" feature, letting users broadcast to an unlimited number of other users - a tool that many online jihadists were quick to exploit.

The move to Telegram did not go unnoticed and IS went underground in August 2016 after its official accounts were repeatedly suspended.

But IS media operatives set up lots of separate channels that simply repeated or mirrored what appeared on the official channel.

These channels simultaneously stream material produced by IS's central media operation, including its self-styled news agency Amaq, and are described as being dedicated to distributing official IS news.

The mirror channels, called the Nashir News Agency, have also regularly been suspended.

To circumvent this, their administrators use a stealthy approach in which they set up a user or channel and allow it to build up a substantial following before suddenly switching it to the easily recognisable IS mirror brand.

The channels continuously promote new join-up links for their proliferating replica versions, calling on IS supporters to distribute them further. 

Some channels, whose promotion on popular social media platforms is prohibited, are designed to maintain a lower profile to avoid suspension.

This enables them to attract a significant number of followers but the channels are usually removed before this exceeds 1,000. Such numbers suffice to get IS's message out for distribution by online supporters. 

Prominent pro-IS figures reliably stream the group's propaganda alongside other content. But IS's strong media branding renders the group's material easily recognisable among other fare.

Telegram does not allow comprehensive searches of public content, which means that the number of pro-jihad users cannot be accurately gauged.

In mid-April, the Nashir agency published a poster congratulating itself on setting up 100 mirror accounts, and there are now said to be more than 130.

This was shortly followed by a campaign to celebrate 12 months of Nashir agency's operation. As part of the campaign, the outlet called for admirers and readers to send in articles and images praising its work, which they did in large numbers. 

These promotional campaigns appeared to be an effort to buoy morale among IS supporters who enjoy relative freedom to post material on Telegram. Telegram has advertised its daily efforts to take down pro-IS channels since December last year.

In another recent move, Nashir agency has switched from just being a mouthpiece for IS to urging its followers on Telegram to spread content via Twitter and Facebook. 

It has advertised its own accounts on those platforms, which have repeatedly been suspended. It has also launched accounts on Instagram and set up English-language feeds for the first time. 

The outlet now posts IS material in Arabic and English translation via its main feeds, the latest step of an initiative to post in English that began after the Westminster attack on 22 March.

These moves by Nashir agency to expand its reach have followed criticism by IS supporters on Telegram that pro-IS channels were preaching to the converted and should step up their efforts on other platforms. 

IS has sought to cultivate the commitment of virtual foot-soldiers by highlighting their importance in its war.

Charlie Winter of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) acknowledges the success IS has had with Telegram.

He says the messaging service's action against pro-IS channels "seems to be very haphazard".

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has also named Telegram among tech firms she wants to be tougher on pro-jihad users.

Mr Winter adds that IS's efforts to expose unsuspecting audiences to its propaganda on other, more popular platforms now meet with much less success. 

IS might regularly post content specifically designed for Twitter, but this attempt at "amplification" no longer goes well, he says.

The group is still most successful on Telegram but its reliance on it could come at a cost, as supporters flock to the app instead of pushing the IS message to audiences elsewhere.

BBC

You Might Also Read:

Flight Ban On Laptops 'sparked by IS threat':

US And UK Agree To Take On Islamic State In Cyberspace:

ISIS Just Can’t Resist Social Media:

 

 

 

« Uber In Legal Fight With Google
Leaked NSA Report Claims Russian 'Cyber Espionage' Against US Elections »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)

US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)

USCYBERCOM conducts activities to ensure US/Allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to our adversaries.

Array Networks

Array Networks

Array Networks, the network functions platform company, develops purpose-built systems for hosting virtual networking and security functions with guaranteed performance.

ThreatMark

ThreatMark

ThreatMark provides fraud detection solutions for digital banking and payments.

Independent Security Evaluators (ISE)

Independent Security Evaluators (ISE)

ISE is an independent security consulting firm headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland dedicated to securing high value assets for global enterprises and performing groundbreaking security research.

Destel

Destel

Destel is a system integrator and provider of IT services focused on Advanced Network & Security Solutions.

Telelogos

Telelogos

Telelogos is a European provider of Enterprise Mobility Management software, Digital Signage software and Data Transfer and Synchronization software.

Cyber Tec Security

Cyber Tec Security

Cyber Tec Security is an IASME Certification Body for Cyber Essentials basic/Plus. We also provide ongoing Managed Security Services.

ChaosSearch

ChaosSearch

ChaosSearch is a massively scalable ELK-compatible log analysis platform delivered as a fully managed service with high-performance and low cost.

Xperience

Xperience

Xperience solves our clients’ toughest challenges by delivering business efficiency through digital transformation solutions across cloud, managed IT, CRM and ERP.

InfusionPoints

InfusionPoints

InfusionPoints is your independent trusted partner dedicated to assisting you in building your secure and compliant business solutions.

Progress Partners

Progress Partners

Progress Partners is a corporate advisory firm that works with buyers and sellers of emerging growth companies to complete M&A or private placement transactions. Our sectors include cybersecurity.

The PenTesting Company

The PenTesting Company

The PenTesting Company is owned and operated by offensive security professionals. Penetration Testing is essentially all we do.

Technivorus Technology

Technivorus Technology

Technivorus is a deep-tech firm delivering customized Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Web & App Development, and multifarious IT services for businesses across the globe.

Skyhigh Security

Skyhigh Security

Skyhigh Security enables your remote workforce while addressing your cloud, web, data, and network security needs.

Barclay Simpson

Barclay Simpson

Barclay Simpson is proud to have a long history of delivering cyber security, technology and governance recruitment services.

ITButler e-Services

ITButler e-Services

At IT Butler, our mission is crystal clear: we are dedicated to providing top-tier cybersecurity solutions and best-practice methodologies to secure and enhance your digital infrastructure’s resilienc