Why Niche Social Data Matters for Counter-Terror Initiatives

For years, the dark web has been touted as a valuable intelligence source for governments focused on counter-terror initiatives. According to a report published by the Henry Jackson Society in 2018, the dark web is a reliable source for locating and understanding terrorist recruitment, propaganda, and cryptocurrency exchange. Dark websites like The Daily Stormer, 8kun, and marketplaces selling fake passports, are obvious enablers for violent extremists and terrorists. More recently, the dark web has been identified by some as an overlooked platform as governments and technology companies collaborate to take down extremist content on the internet— particularly on mainstream platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

This case study explores how these social networks can be accessed and what their value is to organizations working in this space by looking at incel extremism online.

Use the button on the right to read the full case study.