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.

Home / Policymakers and Officials

ISD resources for policymakers and Officials

ISD has a 20-year track record of helping governments at all levels. Our work includes policy advisory support, cutting-edge analysis, and monitoring of the threat landscape to safeguard national security and individual rights.

Threat detection, research and analysis

We provide governments with the best-in-class data analysis to combat a range of emerging threats both online and offline. Our analysis tracks the connections between extremist networks and offline violence, dissects the role of foreign interference in regional politics, and explores a variety of threats to democracy across different jurisdictions.

Policy advisory support

We use evidence and expertise to make sure regulations can adapt and last. Our Digital Policy Lab (DPL) convenes regulators and other officials from to discuss threats to democracy, free speech and public safety.

Please email us at [email protected] if you would like to learn more about this work.

September 17, 2026

25 years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains perennially online: The group’s digital ecosystem in 2026

Twenty-five years after 9/11, al-Qaeda remains online, adapting its decentralized ecosystem across platforms, messaging services and AI.

Islamist Extremism, Tech Accountability and Safety, Threat Analysis and Prevention

September 7, 2026

Lessons from Extremism Prevention for Countering Hybrid Threats: A Framework for Policy Response

Threat Analysis and Prevention

August 26, 2026

Online antisemitism and digital regulation: ISD’s submission to the Australian Royal Commission

Antisemitism, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse

May 21, 2026

Addressing the Intersection of Misogyny, Targeted Hate and Violent Extremism

Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Tech Accountability and Safety

March 10, 2026

The 2025 Annual Review of Plots and Attacks Across the US

Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Islamist Extremism, Terrorism and Extremism, Threat Analysis and Prevention

MORE Resources for policymakers and OfficIals

November 16, 2021

Understanding the Salafi Online Ecosystem: A Digital Snapshot

A digital snapshot of the rapidly shifting online Salafi ecosystem across social media and its intersection with Gen-Z identities.

Islamist Extremism, Terrorism and Extremism

September 30, 2021

Policy Paper: Mainstreamed Extremism and the Future of Prevention

This policy paper considers the paradigm shift in prevention approaches required to respond to today's extremism challenges.

Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Tech Legislation and Regulation, Terrorism and Extremism, Threat Analysis and Prevention

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

July 5, 2021

Multi-Agency Models for Preventing Violent Extremism: A Guidebook for Bangladesh

This guidebook helps local governments in Bangladesh implement a multi-stakeholder approach to preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE).

Resources, Strong Cities

May 11, 2021

Responding to a Terror Attack: A Strong Cities Toolkit – Arabic

تقدّم مجموعة أدوات "شبكة المدن القوية" (SCN) هذه إلى الحكومات المحلية دليلاً يتعلق بصياغة ردّ حساس وفعا

Resources, Strong Cities

April 14, 2021

Together for Safety: 21 Ways Forward 2021

The Together for Safety webinars tackled urban safety and security, focusing on hate, polarisation, and extremism in Nordic cities and globally.

Resources, Strong Cities

February 19, 2021

UK General Election 2019: Digital disruption by the political parties, and the need for new rules (joint paper)

This briefing brings together the findings of eight organisations who monitored the UK’s digital landscape leading up to the General Election.

Democratic Integrity, Resources, Tech Legislation and Regulation

February 10, 2021

Répondre à une attaque terroriste: un guide Strong Cities

Ce guide SCN fournit aux gouvernements locaux des conseils pour formuler une réponse efficace après une attaque terroriste.

Resources, Strong Cities