How ISIS Is Using Twitter to Spread Violent Propaganda, and What to Do About It
…But simply suspending ISIS Twitter accounts is not a black-and-white issue. In addition to the ethical question of whether to suspend political speech, there are real questions about whether or not suspending ISIS Twitter accounts destroy valuable intelligence that can be used to combat ISIS, or whether the suspensions can work to actually radicalize an ostracized community more quickly.
While the authors of the study do not recommend a widespread eradication of all pro-ISIS Twitter accounts, they do advocate for a continued discussion between Twitter, various governments, and other stakeholders about how to enact smart regulations that combat the ability of extremist groups to use social media to advocate for horrific real-world violence.
For a much more detailed analysis of ISIS’s use of Twitter, and more specific recommendations about what Twitter and others combating ISIS should do about it, read the Brookings Institution paper by J.M. Berger and Jonathon Morgan. And keep an eye out for J.M. Berger’s new book on ISIS that’s coming out at the end of March.
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