Highlights:

• ISD wins the U.S.-Paris Tech Challenge with our online manipulation detection technology, Beam, and launches new research that charts the financial lifelines of German far-right actors, evidences the gendered disinformation trends in German election discourse and shows how open source tech is allowing extremist websites to flourish
• Setting human rights at the centre of future prevention policy in the Future of Extremism series
• Putting German far-right online activity in historical context from the early internet

Speaking engagements:

• Web panel: ISD’s Milo Comerford spoke at the launch of the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN) this month, which publicly established the newly formed Network of counter-extremism organisations, including ISD.

ISD in the Media:

• VOX, Why is Guantanamo still open? – ISD’s Jasmine El Gamal is a guest speaker for “Today, Explained” where she discusses the history of Guantanamo Bay and why the detention center remains open 20 years later.
• VICE, ‘He’s Gonna Die With Us’: Sovereign Citizen Took an Elderly COVID Patient Out of the ICU – Aoife Gallagher comments on the rise of Dolores Cahill, a leader in the antivaxx community in Europe.
• POLITICO, “Dark news: The murky world of undercover EU lobbying” – Daniel Maki provides insight into disinformation used in lobbying efforts at the EU in Brussels.

Highlights:

• Gamers who hate: An inside look at extremist activity on Steam, Discord, DLive & Twitch
• ISD’s latest report provides in-depth analysis on the state of extremism and hate on TikTok
• ISD identifies key trends in the online activity of Canadian right-wing extremists
• The tactics right-wing extremists use to avoid internet regulation, such as the NetzDG – Download in German
• Sounds on TikTok are reportedly fueling antivaxx conspiracies

Speaking engagements:

• Web panel: ISD’s Sasha Havlicek on the threat of disinformation to European Democracy

• Event: A plan for action: Ten years since the terrorist attacks in Norway

ISD in the Media:

• Sky News, “What is the legacy of 9/11?” – our CEO, Sasha Havlicek, sat down with Sky News to speak about the legacy of the ‘War on Terror.’ Watch it here.
• ARD Media Thek (German), “Die Story im Ersten: Wahlkampf undercover” – ISD’s Chloe Colliver and Jakob Guhl are featured in a documentary following PR firms’ interests and involvement with political parties around elections.
• POLITICO, “Jihadists flood pro-Trump social network with propaganda” – Moustafa Ayad comments on the Islamists extremists exploiting GETTR, the alt-right social media platform started by Trump’s inner circle.

Highlights:

• Disinformation targeting state election in Germany signals risks for 2021 Bundestag election – Download in German
• New ISD report uncovers anti-refugee disinformation and mobilisation in Europe
• ISD and Die Welt investigation identifies shift in Chinese influence operations tactics
• New ISD research maps New Zealand’s online extremist ecosystem

Speaking engagements:

• Podcast: Monetising Islamophobia
• Webinar: Digital hatred, its causes, manifestations, and effects – To register click here

ISD in the Media:

• BBC’s Newsnight, Chloe Colliver speaks with Newsnight about the risks of radicalization, and radicalization toward violence, after prolonged exposure to extremists and disinformation narratives such as antivaxx conspiracies.
• The Wall Street Journal, “After Trump Ban, Facebook Oversight Panel Pushes for More Say” – Our CEO Sasha Havlicek comments on Facebook’s Oversight Board and how it could better orient its focus toward its business practices, the design of its product and algorithms.
• POLITICO, “Voter fraud misinformation gains momentum in Germany” – Julia Smirnova and Chloe Colliver spoke with POLITICO about ISD‘s research on the far-right and voter fraud narratives in Germany ahead of nationwide elections.

Highlights:

• ISD’S Sasha Havlicek addresses Christchurch Call Leaders’ Summit
• New ISD research for EU shows dramatic rise in online antisemitism in French and German during the pandemic
• Understanding the inner workings of the “Cloud Caliphate“

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: SCN launches the Covid-19 Resource Hub
• Webinar: Countering Extremism at the Municipal Level, Council on Foreign Relations
• Podcast: Identity, Pluralism, and Extremism, RISE

ISD in the Media:

• BBC News Africa, “The Door Closed and Then I Heard the Shots” – Aoife Gallagher contributes to a short documentary on a fatal shooting by the Gardaí (Irish police) and the role of disinformation in the case.
• POLITICO, “Boris Johnson’s phone number breach fails to prompt tighter security” – Daniel Maki talks with Politico about how government officials should use disposable burners in order to deter hackers.
• The Irish Times, “Why are women more hesitant to get the Covid-19 vaccine?” – Cecile Guerin quoted in this article looking at COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among women.

Highlights:

• New report finds Amazon’s algorithms drive traffic to extremist content
• Linking Irish far-right activity on the Telegram to real life consequences
• Making sense of Arabic COVID-19 misinformation in the MENA region

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: The Growth of Transatlantic Far-Right Networks
• Webinar: Extremism and extremist groups in an Irish context
• Podcast: Domestic extremism spreads its wings

ISD in the Media:

• Tortoise Media, “Climate is the new front in the culture wars” – A long read article by Jennie King outlining how climate disinformation is the next big topic to be exploited by extremists to serve their interests.
• Bild, “Antisemitische Hetze bleibt oft unbestraft” – Coverage of ISD’s research on antisemitic online hate speech in Germany, with comment from Huberta von Voss of ISD Germany.
• USA Today, “Is Amazon recommending books on QAnon and white nationalism? Browsing books can lead to extremist rabbit hole” – Chloe Colliver discusses ISD’s recent report on Amazon algorithms promotion of extremist content.

Highlights:

• ISD study shows spike in anti-vaxx disinfo in France in last 6 months
• PROACT: ISD’s grassroots capacity building programme in Kenya underway
• Major German corporations pilot ISD Germany’s Business Council for Democracy (#BC4D)

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: Open Discourse and Fighting Extremism in the Virtual World
• Webinar: Antisemitism and hate movements after Trump
• Webinar: Unmasking Influence Operators: What are Best Practices in Attribution?

ISD in the Media:

• The Times (UK), “Facebook ads lure users to conspiracy videos” – Milo Comerford remarks on how anti-vaxx and conspiracy-laden ads target users in Ireland through Facebook.
• The Independent, “QAnon: How the US Satanic paedophile cult conspiracy theory took root in Europe” – Jakob Guhl comments on QAnon’s resonance in Germany
• Vice, “Canadian Facebook Groups Spreading Anti-Vax Conspiracies Jumped by Almost 50%: Study” – More coverage of ISD’s COVID-19 disinformation monitor for Canada, as seen in Digital Dispatches.

Highlights:

• Strong Cities Network hosts 70 mayors in conversation with the Dalai Lama
• How Russian Influence Operations Travel Across the Internet
• New SCN report highlights resilience-building in the Balkans

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: Practical approaches to digital citizenship and media literacy in France
• Webinar: The fight against online radicalisation and its data protection implications
• Radio documentary: Digitale Demagogie (Digital demagogy)

ISD in the Media:

• CNN, Don Lemon Tonight: Chloe Colliver spoke to Don Lemon as a featured guest on January 15th and January 21st
• Cécile Guerin talks about the interaction between the yoga world and QAnon from her personal experience in Wired
• BBC News, “Biden inauguration: What are far-right Trump supporters saying?” – Ciaran O’Connor looks at the aftermath of the Biden inauguration and its effect on the far right.

Highlights:

• New report confirms how coordinated and divisive political content on Facebook targeted US audiences
• ISD Germany report tracks how Germany-based extremists amplified their reach with COVID-19
• ISD launches Digital Policy Lab, helping governments chart the path forward on platform governance and policy

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: Lessons Learnt and ‘New Normals’ in a Post-COVID World, London School of Economics
• Webinar: Who regulates free speech?, Trust in Journalism Conference
• Webinar: The Internet and Islamophobia, WebRoots Democracy Festival

ISD in the Media:

• New York Times, “QAnon is still spreading on Facebook, despite a ban.” – Exclusive coverage of ISD’s reporting with NewsGuard on QAnon and Facebook
• Slate, “Keep Calm and QAnon” – Amarnath Amarasingam writes on how pro-Trump conspiracy theories may have actually discouraged postelection violence
• GNET Research, “Digital Extremism in German-Speaking Countries During the COVID-19 Crisis” – Op-ed by ISD’s Jakob Guhl covering research on the COVID-19 crisis in Germany

Highlights:

• Bankrolling Hate: New report into online funding strategies used by hate movements
• Krise und Kontrolverlust: COVID-19 and German online extremism (in German)
• Hoodwinked: Coordinated inauthentic behavior on Facebook

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: The Future of Disinformation, The Aspen Initiative UK
• Webinar: Mainstreaming right-wing extremism, Belgrade Security Forum
• Webinar: Outthinking Hate, Center for Humane Technology

ISD in the Media:

• BBC Two’s “In the Face of Terror” features Jacob Davey and the digital analysis team (UK only)
• BBC News “The TikTok Election,” features Jennie King, Chloe Colliver, and Ciaran O’Connor
• NBC News, “Tech platforms continue to let U.S.-based hate groups use them to make payments” – Jacob Davey discusses ISD’s recent report, “Bankrolling Bigotry.”

Highlights:

• ISD examines online abuse of candidates in the US 2020 Elections
• ISD launches new blog Digital Dispatches
• Global mayors and practitioners convene for Strong Cities Network 5 year anniversary

Speaking engagements:

• Webinar: The Repatriation of Extremists, Oxford Forum for Questioning Extremism
• Podcast: “Your nation’s attention for the price of a used car”, Your Undivided Attention, Center for Humane Technology
• Webinar: Are Hate Groups Still Active During the Pandemic?, The Groundswell Project

ISD in the Media:

• BBC World Service, Newshour – Rashad Ali speaks on on the arrest of a hoax ISIS foreign fighter in Canada (Listen from 14:00).
• National Public Radio, “Social Media Companies Brace For Post-Election Threats” – Chloe Colliver discusses what social media platforms should be doing to respond to election misinformation and voter suppression.
• The Today Show (NBC) – Aoife Gallagher discusses the rise of QAnon and Facebook’s recent ban of QAnon content.