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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.

‘United by chaos:’ Examining the Russian nexus to online networks of nihilistic violence

An ‘Alliance’ is uniting nihilistic violence with Russian-speaking groups, incentivizing offline violence. But why? ISD investigates its origins.

Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

25 years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains perennially online: The group’s digital ecosystem in 2026

Twenty-five years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains online, adapting its decentralized ecosystem across platforms, messaging services and AI.

Islamist Extremism, Tech Accountability and Safety, Threat Analysis and Prevention

Investigation | An old dog with no new tricks: Matryoshka targets regional elections in Germany

ISD finds Matryoshka targets Germany’s 2026 elections, exposing weaknesses that could aid detection in future elections.

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Tech Accountability and Safety

‘Tick tock traitor:’ The rise of violent rhetoric targeting US public officials

We assess how violent threats against US officials have tripled since 2021, spiking after major events and driven mainly by partisan individuals.

Officials and Law Enforcement, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Tech Accountability and Safety, Threats to Public Figures

Flagship Programmes

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

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

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

Young Cities

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

Resources

Extreme Dialogue

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

Terrorism and Extremism

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

ISD In the media

Scam advertisements promoting concealed carry permits target vulnerable populations

Recent German state elections show Russian information operations’ renewed focus

Online gaming platforms used to recruit children to 764 network

Voters increasingly rely on AI for election questions, raising concerns about information accuracy

Digital Dispatches

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

Grandma got her gun: How scam concealed carry ads are targeting seniors and veterans on Meta platforms

Tech Accountability and Safety

25 years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains perennially online: The group’s digital ecosystem in 2026

Islamist Extremism, Tech Accountability and Safety, Threat Analysis and Prevention

‘United by chaos:’ Examining the Russian nexus to online networks of nihilistic violence

Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation

Generation ‘Slop Jihad:’ The decentralized ‘media jihad’ gets sloppy

Islamist Extremism, 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

September 7, 2026

Lessons from Extremism Prevention for Countering Hybrid Threats: A Framework for Policy Response

Europe faces growing hybrid threats as hostile states increasingly exploit online networks to recruit young people for disruptive & violent activity.

Threat Analysis and Prevention

September 3, 2026

Chatbots and the Ballot Box: Evaluating Accuracy, Sourcing, and Language Gaps in AI Answers to Election Questions

ISD assesses how reliably six leading AI models provide accurate, complete information on US election procedures and voter access.

Valeria de la Fuente, Max Read and Peter Benzoni

Emerging Technologies, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Tech Accountability and Safety

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

‘United by chaos:’ Examining the Russian nexus to online networks of nihilistic violence

25 years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains perennially online: The group’s digital ecosystem in 2026

Investigation | An old dog with no new tricks: Matryoshka targets regional elections in Germany

‘Tick tock traitor:’ The rise of violent rhetoric targeting US public officials

Flagship Programmes

Business Council for Democracy

Be Internet Citizens

Strong Cities

Young Cities

Extreme Dialogue

Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism (CCOA)

ISD In the media

Digital Dispatches

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

Grandma got her gun: How scam concealed carry ads are targeting seniors and veterans on Meta platforms

25 years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains perennially online: The group’s digital ecosystem in 2026

‘United by chaos:’ Examining the Russian nexus to online networks of nihilistic violence

Generation ‘Slop Jihad:’ The decentralized ‘media jihad’ gets sloppy

ISD Spotlights

The War In Ukraine

Countering pro-Kremlin disinformation targeting Ukrainian refugees in Germany

Elections all around the world in 2024

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

Explainers

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

Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) Abuse

Proud Boys

764

Reports

Lessons from Extremism Prevention for Countering Hybrid Threats: A Framework for Policy Response

Chatbots and the Ballot Box: Evaluating Accuracy, Sourcing, and Language Gaps in AI Answers to Election Questions

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Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) Abuse