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.
Inauthentic Behaviour
A set of behaviours suggesting an online entity might be operating under a false or misleading identity. These behaviours include: a mismatch between geolocation and topic; poor use of stated language (misspellings, grammar mistakes etc.); little or no evidence of human activity in photos; profile photos or interactions; stock photographs used for profile photos; sudden dramatic changes in posting volume; topic or language or both without explanation; repetitive posting or sharing patterns. Signals used to detect potential inauthentic behaviour are constantly evolving, based on the changing tactics of actors using such approaches to deceive audiences online.
Incentivised Social Media
“Incentivised” social media platforms reward users for their activity on the platforms using financial instruments (e.g. in the form of cryptocurrency payments). This creates a financial incentive for users to engage with their platform.
Islamisation
Islamisation describes the process by which the religion of Islam has spread across the world alongside associated Muslim customs, culture and traditions. The term has also come to be used with negative connotations as an Islamophobic trope to describe the supposed imposition of an ultra-conservative Islamic social and political system on a traditionally non-Muslim country or culture. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and, more recently, the growth of ISIS and Islamist terrorism, the term has been used to promote suspicion, anger and hatred against Muslims.
Islamist Extremism
Islamist extremism describes the advocacy of a system of belief that promotes the creation of an exclusionary and totalitarian Islamic state, within which those who do not subscribe to this vision are portrayed as an inferior ‘out-group’ and are subjected to implicit, explicit or violent means of subjugation and prejudice. Islamist extremists propagate a dehumanising ‘othering’ mind-set that is antithetical to pluralism and the universal application of human rights.
