The Cipher Brief spoke with John Cohen, Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University and Former Acting Under Secretary for Intelligence at the Department of Homeland Security. He explained that terrorist organizations use social media as a tool to connect with a target audience comprised of individuals who share “common psychological and life experience profiles” and who are searching for meaning in their life.
The Cipher Brief: What are some of the main online platforms that extremists use to recruit Westerners? Who is their target audience?
John Cohen: Internet accessible communication platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized the way in which like-minded people around the world engage, communicate, share ideas, and collaborate. These same communication platforms have dramatically changed the way terrorist groups recruit people to join their organizations. Potential recruits are selected based on their reaction to online postings and then directed to encrypted communication platforms so that they can be further evaluated and recruited.
Equally as disturbing is that groups like the Islamic State (ISIS) have employed highly sophisticated and dynamic social media campaigns to inspire people in Western Europe and the United States to conduct violent attacks at home, independent of the organization’s command and control structure. We have found that the content of these campaigns seem to resonate with individuals who share common psychological and life experience profiles: individuals who are from dysfunctional family environments, disconnected from their community, have suffered a series of life failures, and are searching for some cause that provides them a sense of belonging. These individuals tend to spend significant time alone, online, viewing violent postings and playing violent virtual games. There are some experts who believe that groups like ISIS are specifically targeting this vulnerable population.
TCB: Why has online terrorist recruitment been so effective?
JC: Part of it is the broad reach these platforms have and how easy it is for people to access them. Also, using social media provides terrorist groups with an adaptable method of communication. If a site gets shut down, they simply can create a new one. But, the success of these efforts has more to do with the content of the postings. These are postings that are specifically designed to appeal to and inspire young westerners. They are short, in English, the speakers use western slang, and the videos are scored with hip-hop and rap music. They romanticize the cause of these extremist organizations and the conditions in which they operate. But more importantly, they convey a promise to the viewer that they could become a meaningful part of a great cause and therefore their life can have meaning. And while these postings may offer false hope, they are intended to be attractive and resonate with people who are searching for some meaning in their life and for something to belong to. For that group of individuals, these postings are very powerful.
TCB: What steps have social media companies taken to limit terrorist recruitment on their platforms?
JC: Some media companies have actively sought to take down sites and/or remove postings that are clearly intended to incite violent behavior. But it is complicated, particularly here in the United States. Companies are generally hesitant to make a determination whether a posting is considered an incitement for violence or protected free speech. In the United States, extreme thoughts and even extreme and hateful speech are protected by the Constitution. Private sector companies are hesitant to serve as the evaluator or censors of what could be constitutionally protected speech.
TCB: How have the U.S. government and social media companies collaborated to track extremists? How could this cooperation be further enhanced?
JC: The U.S. government and some social media companies have sought to find common ground as it relates to the removal of problematic postings. There have been discussions exploring whether there are opportunities for social media to be more active in conveying counter-narratives to the narratives of terrorist groups, such as ISIS. But from my perspective, the most effective way to prevent violence by those inspired by the postings of terrorist groups is through intervention in the physical world as opposed to the virtual world. It may only take a matter of months for someone to become so inspired that they are willing to conduct a violent attack on behalf of an ideological cause. However, we have found that in almost every case, inspired individuals exhibit behaviors that are apparent to others in the community and serve as a warning that violence is possible. At the local level, we must build up the capacity to understand warning signs, identify individuals that pose the risk of violence, and intervene before violence occurs. For this to happen, law enforcement officials must work closely not only with members of the community, but with mental health professionals, faith leaders, educators, and others so that we can better address the underlying causes that propel a person towards the influence of these social media campaigns.
