Research says wider action is needed to tackle extreme Twitter accounts

Academics at the University of Sussex, Dublin City University, and VoxPol have found that Twitter is effectively engaging in “substantial and aggressive” disruption of pro-Islamic State (IS) accounts. The social media platform is now far less effective than it used to be for the terrorist network.

However, the researchers also found that different levels of disruption were occuring on Twitter, as other jihadi accounts were not experiencing the same levels of suspension. These groups and their supporters were able to send six times as many tweets and follow or “friend” four times as many accounts. They also gained 13 times as many followers as pro-IS accounts.

Dr Suraj Lakhani, an expert in violent extremism at the University of Sussex, and one of the report’s authors, said: “Our research demonstrates that Twitter is very effective in disrupting IS and their propaganda on the platform. However, other violent jihadi groups, including Hayat Tahrir al Sham and the Taliban, are able to operate more freely.

“They are subject to lower disruption rates, able to send more tweets, and follow and ‘friend’ more accounts compared to IS supporters.

“In recent years, there has been a tendency for counter-terrorism professionals, academics and researchers to focus on Islamic State as an organisation, particularly on Twitter. We recommend that as well as continuing to disrupt Islamic State on social media, there should not be any complacency about the other jihadis, and far-right organisations. Their activities across a variety of social media and other online platforms should be targeted too.”