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February 26, 2026

Coordinating Through Chaos: The State of the Islamic State Online in 2026

ISD-US

Islamist Extremism, Terrorism and Extremism

Researchers at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) have been producing multiplatform landscape assessments of the Islamic State’s online ecosystem, underscoring the persistence of IS networks of accounts, groups, pages, channels and websites despite pressure from social media platforms, internet regulatory bodies and law enforcement action.

The 2026 analysis shows that the group maintains this same cross-platform sprawl, while continuing to evolve its tactical playbook. The supporters and the unofficial IS support outlets and groups continue to function in a state of regeneration. They are seemingly unaffected by constraints on their ability to spread narratives, content and create communities online, both in the open and in darker corners of the internet.

In the media

Threat from Islamist terrorist groups pivots, becoming more decentralized

As platforms pull back moderation, Islamic State contents grows in reach

Online activity driving continual threat from Islamic State

ISD’s Moustafa Ayad on AI’s role in enhancing Islamic State propaganda and operational security

ISD Contributors

Moustafa Ayad
Research Chair in Global Islamism & Counter-Terrorism