ISD Glossary
ISD’s Glossary provides clear definitions of key terms related to extremism, hate, information operations and tech accountability. This page is continually reviewed to ensure accuracy.
Christian Nationalism
Christian nationalism has multiple definitions, but for ISD’s purposes it is understood to be an ideology that “idealises and advocates a fusion of Christianity and American [or Australian, or British] civic life” (Whitehead and Perry 2020:10). Christianity in this form is typically racialised (as white) and exclusionary (implying that other religions cannot or should not be part of the nation).
Closed-Source Information
"Closed-source information is information with restricted access or access that is protected by law, but which may be obtained legally through private channels, such as judicial processes, or offered voluntarily," according to the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations. An example of closed-source information is information acquired "from other internet users through communication with those users." See definition for open-source information.
Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories are attempts to explain a phenomenon by invoking a sinister plot orchestrated by powerful actors. Conspiracies are painted as secret or esoteric, with adherents to a theory seeing themselves as the initiated few who have access to hidden knowledge. Supporters of conspiracy theories usually see themselves as in direct opposition to the powers who are orchestrating the plot which are typically governments or figures of authority.
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are a type of deep learning algorithm optimised for processing grid-like data, such as images. A typical CNN consists of convolutional layers, paired with pooling layers, fully connected layers, and normalisation layers. CNNs are good at learning spatial hierarchies of features due to their structure, making them ideal for image recognition and object detection. Their design allows them to process visual data efficiently, making them a cornerstone in the AI sub-field of computer vision.
Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour (CIB)
This is a term used by Facebook to define groups of pages, groups or accounts that work together covertly to mislead users about who they are or what they’re doing. The platform’s definition of CIB requires that activity to involve a group of more than one affiliated social media entity (individual accounts, channels, groups, pages) that are exhibiting a set of characteristics of inauthentic identity and behaviour, managed together by one actor or set of actors.
A set of online entities—individual accounts, groups or pages—operating together towards a shared goal or purpose, which can, but do not have to be, managed by the same actor(s).
Crypto Wallet
A (crypto) wallet is a physical storage medium or software that is used to store cryptocurrencies. The accounts have a specific private key and are usually protected by means of encryption. Depending on the cryptocurrency, wallets provide different levels of access to information about users and transactions associated with the account for third parties.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies whose transactions are protected through cryptographic signatures and documented in a blockchain. When cryptocurrencies are sent, these transactions are validated through a process of code comparison. Cryptocurrencies enable pseudonymous transactions and usually have a decentralised structure; for example, there are no central authorities that define and stabilise the value of cryptocurrencies. Therefore, according to the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), cryptocurrencies are not actually currencies, but rather financial instruments. The ability to make pseudonymised payments also makes cryptocurrencies attractive to criminals, who use such methods of payment to conduct illegal business.
