The video of reporter James Foley’s beheading is the latest evidence that the ultra-extreme Islamic State has mastered social media. High-quality propaganda, well designed for intended audiences, went viral—matching the most sophisticated campaigns of multinational corporations. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube will be hard-pressed to block such messages in the future—however grotesque they might be. We look at the impact of this technological expertise, how it serves the Islamic State and how it might be combatted.
ISIS and the Rise of Social Media Terrorism
Credits
Guests:
- Matt Bradley - Wall Street Journal - @MattMcBradley
- Dave Lee - Technology reporter for BBC News - @davelee
- Aki Peritz - George Washington University - @akiperitz
- Jillian York - Director for International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Freedom Foundation, that’s a nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. - @jilliancyork