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Iran’s diplomats launch a meme war

Iranian officials are using provocative, ironic content to go viral, driving massive engagement and reshaping state messaging during the war.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

How pro-Iran networks gained a billion views on war propaganda

Two pro-Iran X networks gained over a billion views via coordinated misleading content and Premium verification under algorithmic amplification.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

Iran floods global social media with AI content during ongoing conflict

ISD’s Bret Schafer joined Fox News to discuss the surge of AI-generated content Iran is deploying amid the ongoing conflict.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference

Pathways to parlays: Analyzing youth exposure to online gambling & prediction market advertising

ISD finds social platforms failing to block gambling and prediction market ads to minors, exposing major moderation gaps amid rising youth addiction.

Tech Accountability and Safety, Tech Legislation and Regulation

Coordinating Through Chaos: The State of the Islamic State Online in 2026

ISD research found that in 2026, the group maintained the same cross-platform sprawl while continuing to evolve its tactical playbook.

Islamist Extremism, Terrorism and Extremism

Flagship Programmes

Be Internet Citizens

ISD works to build young people’s digital citizenship skills across the UK, enabling them to critically evaluate information.

Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

Young Cities

Young Cities fosters collaboration between young people and local governments to address the most pressing issues in their communities.

Resources

Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism (CCOA)

ISD’s international network of organisations taking a whole of society approach to counter online antisemitism in Europe.

Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Terrorism and Extremism

Strong Cities

The Strong Cities Network is an independent, global network of more than 295 cities dedicated to addressing all forms of hate and extremism.

Strong Cities, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Terrorism and Extremism

Business Council for Democracy

The Business Council for Democracy is a cross-sector platform that brings together companies and employers committed to our democracy.

Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Terrorism and Extremism, Training and Educational Resources

Extreme Dialogue

The Extreme Dialogue programme supports educators and young people to confront the realities of hate and extremism.

Terrorism and Extremism

ISD In the media

Russian disinformation threatens upcoming German elections

Social media plays role in border crisis between Spain and Morocco

Anti-LGBTQ+ hate in extremist movements

Canadian nationalist group promotes self-proclaimed ‘Bigotfest’ on social media

Digital Dispatches

The latest ISD data-driven analysis on terrorism, extremism, hate and information operations.

From posts to protests: How online narratives fuelled anti-migrant violence in Southampton and Belfast

Anti-Migrant, Far-Right Extremism

Louder and louder on the Western front: Key takeaways from the Authoritarian Interference Tracker

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

Five lessons from the Islamist extremist attack on Berlin Pride

Anti-LGBTQ+, Islamist Extremism

San Diego mosque shooting highlights new generation of neo-Nazi accelerationism

Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Terrorism and Extremism

ISD Spotlights

The War In Ukraine

Countering pro-Kremlin disinformation targeting Ukrainian refugees in Germany

ISD released the first round of a video campaign in German, Arabic and Russian.

Anti-Migrant, Education, Resources, Training and Educational Resources

Tim Squirrell: Meta’s conclusions on pro-Kremlin online campaigns “difficult” to assess

Data Access and Transparency

‘Smash-and-grab’ Russian-origin accounts flood Meta platforms with Ukraine war disinformation

Inside NAFO: The meme collective countering Kremlin talking points online

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

Elections all around the world in 2024

Pro-Islamic State outlet using CNN and Al Jazeera branding to boost reach

Executive Director for Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Moustafa Ayad, spoke to WIRED about ISD’s investigation on a pro-Islamic State (IS) network.

Islamist Extremism

Explainers

Overviews of issues, trends, narratives, platforms and actors.

Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) Abuse

Non-consensual intimate imagery abuse describes the creation and dissemination of intimate images of a person without their consent.

Digital Rights and Protections, Emerging Technologies, Misogyny, Tech Accountability and Safety

Proud Boys

The Proud Boys are a US-based political activist group that subscribes to a self-described “Western chauvinist” worldview.

Far-Right Extremism

764

764 is a network of online groups that engage in sextortion and the glorification of violence.

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Kids Online Safety, Misogyny

Reports

July 22, 2026

Radicalisation in Closed Loops: Risks and Intervention Opportunities with AI Chatbots and Companions

This report explores how conversational AI may create new pathways for radicalisation and how safety measures can address emerging risks.

Simeon Dukić, Natalie Vela and Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan

July 13, 2026

Mapping the ‘Nudify’ Tools Ecosystem

ISD maps the gendered deepfakes ecosystem, exposing how it’s created, spread and monetised while identifying key regulatory gaps.

Emerging Technologies, Tech Accountability and Safety, Tech Legislation and Regulation