For 20 years, ISD has delivered field-leading threat detection, analysis and real-world strategies to combat terrorism, extremism and authoritarianism - in all their ideological forms.

Emerging Technologies

Terrorist and extremist groups routinely adopt new technologies to evade law enforcement, ranging from decentralised platforms to generative AI. Our research and advisory work are ahead of the curve in predicting, identifying and responding to these new trends. The research and policy guidance we provide helps frontline practitioners, law enforcement agencies and democratic governments worldwide.

October 22, 2026

US Election Platform Preparedness 2026

Ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, ISD assessed how social platforms are preparing to protect free and fair elections.

Emerging Technologies, Tech Accountability and Safety

September 3, 2026

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

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

July 28, 2026

Popular image generation models are creating deepfake nudes

Emerging Technologies, Misogyny, Tech Accountability and Safety

July 24, 2026

Highlighting ISD research on AI chatbots and radicalisation risks

Emerging Technologies, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Tech Accountability and Safety, Terrorism and Extremism

July 14, 2026

ISD finds mainstream social media platforms refer users to ‘nudify’ apps

Emerging Technologies, Misogyny, Tech Accountability and Safety

July 13, 2026

Mapping the ‘Nudify’ Tools Ecosystem

Emerging Technologies, Tech Accountability and Safety, Tech Legislation and Regulation

July 13, 2026

Extremists are using AI to build propaganda — and plan attacks

Emerging Technologies, Islamist Extremism, Terrorism and Extremism

May 29, 2026

Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) Abuse

Digital Rights and Protections, Emerging Technologies, Misogyny, Tech Accountability and Safety

November 12, 2025

ISD CEO Sasha Havlicek honoured to join Pope Leo XIV’s audience on AI’s ethical and societal challenges

Emerging Technologies, Kids Online Safety, Tech Accountability and Safety

Further Reading

October 14, 2021

New research explores the complex relationship white supremacists have with the military

New ISD research analyzes white supremacist chats on Telegram to explore their complex relationship with the military.

Emerging Technologies, Far-Right Extremism

September 28, 2021

Open Source, Self Defence: Tackling the Challenge of Extremist Websites and Open Source Tech

This analysis by ISD shows how extremist sites rely on open source tools and services to evade moderation for hate speech and incitement to violence.

Digital Rights and Protections, Emerging Technologies, Terrorism and Extremism

September 11, 2021

Gamers Who Hate: An Introduction to ISD’s Gaming and Extremism Series

This report introduces ISD's Gaming and Extremism series, exploring how the extreme right uses gaming platforms like Steam, Discord, and Twitch.

Emerging Technologies, Far-Right Extremism, Gaming and Alternative Platforms, Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Tech Accountability and Safety, Terrorism and Extremism

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