Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse
ISD defines hate as an activity which seeks to dehumanise, demonise, harass, threaten or incite violence against an individual or community based on their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability or migrant status.
Weaponised hate and polarisation have increasingly moved from the fringes into the mainstream of political discussions. This has manifested in threats to and violence against individuals, groups and communities. Radical political parties advance hate into the mainstream, amplified by hostile state actors. At the same time, a range of extremist movements threaten violence and harassment against communities based on their identity.
Anti-LGBTQ+
The LGBTQ+ community remains one of the most frequently targeted groups globally. Our analysis has identified a recent rise in threats targeting LGBTQ+ people, community leaders and institutions, as well as the normalisation of anti-LGBTQ+ hate across society. ISD deploys our digital analysis capabilities to better understand these threats, inform policymakers around key trends and mitigate threats.
Anti-Migrant
Narratives that treat people as a threat to society solely based on their migrant status are becoming increasingly normalised. ISD provides in-depth analysis of these dynamics, including the networks driving anti-migrant rhetoric and core narratives including the “Great Replacement” conspiracy myth. In the face of a documented rise in hate crimes, we ensure that policymakers can mitigate the threats that anti-migrant discourse poses to communities.
Anti-Muslim
Anti-Muslim hate, or Islamophobia, is targeted hate against Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims. It is a rapidly growing phenomenon, threatening the cohesiveness of multicultural societies around the world.
ISD produces research tracking trends, actors and tactics within anti-Muslim hate and invests in initiatives to help mitigate its impact.
Antisemitism
Threats to Jewish communities and weaponised antisemitism are on the rise, driven by extremists, hostile governments and conspiracy theorists.
Combining our best-in-class digital research techniques with in-depth subject matter knowledge of extremist movements, ISD tracks antisemitism at scale and informs policymakers globally. We also build capacity amongst civil society groups through initiatives such as our Coalition to Combat Online Antisemitism (CCOA).
Identity-based hate and abuse
Racism is one of the oldest and most widespread forms of hate. ISD defines it as discrimination based on ethnicity or skin colour. Racism can affect individuals and groups from all backgrounds, with harms ranging from online harassment to physical attacks.
It can be disseminated by both individual actors as well as networks such as white nationalists. ISD works to counter this threat through ongoing monitoring of racist extremist activity to help safeguard communities.
Misogyny
Misogyny is a common feature across organised extremist movements as well as individual users. It spans a gamut including attacks on women in politics, the spread of non-consensual sexual imagery and algorithmic recommendations of toxic dating advice.
ISD works with policymakers, civil society groups and others to document the spread and transformation of online misogyny so they can better combat it.
Officials and law enforcement
In our increasingly polarising world, threats against public officials and law enforcement are on the rise. These threats often originate online and can escalate into real-world harm, making early identification and intervention critical to prevention efforts. ISD analyses these threats to identify patterns, assess risk, and support prevention efforts.
Threat analysis and prevention
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Threats to public figures
Politicians and public figures operate within an increasingly complex threat environment shaped by deepening polarisation and its amplification through social media platforms. This environment encompasses a spectrum of risks, ranging from online harassment and violent rhetoric to credible threats that translate into real-world physical harm.
