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.

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.

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

December 11, 2025

Spotting the Signs: Recognizing and Responding to Subcultures of Nihilistic Violence

Hybrid Extremism and Nihilistic Violence, Terrorism and Extremism

October 29, 2025

Addressing Illegal Harms on Small and Emerging Platforms: Challenges and Gaps

Tech Accountability and Safety, Tech Legislation and Regulation

July 30, 2025

Emerging Extremism-Related Threats in the UK: Implications for Policy Responses

Terrorism and Extremism

MORE Resources for policymakers and OfficIals

December 18, 2020

Fostering Civic Responses to Online Harms: Learnings from the Online Civil Courage Initiative and the Online Civic Fund

This report reviews the impact of the Online Courage Civic Initiative and Online Civic Fund in 2019, demonstrating how effective civil society actors

Resources, Targeted Threats, Hate and Abuse, Training and Educational Resources

October 5, 2020

Public Figures, Public Rage: Candidate abuse on social media

This report presents the findings of our research into the scale of online abuse targeting Congressional candidates in the 2020 US election.

Democratic Integrity, Threats to Public Figures

June 26, 2020

Cracking the Code: An Evaluation of the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation

This report provides recommendations which seek to inform efforts to counter disinformation and online harms at the EU level.

Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Tech Legislation and Regulation

April 29, 2020

Algorithm Inspection and Regulatory Access

This paper outlines proposed approaches to achieve new systems for transparency and oversight of algorithm design.

Recommender Systems and Algorithms, Tech Accountability and Safety

December 16, 2019

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

A December 16, 2019 briefing by eight organizations shows current UK digital regulations are inadequate, based on pre-election digital monitoring.

Democratic Integrity, Information Warfare and Online Manipulation, Tech Legislation and Regulation

December 4, 2019

Extracts From ISD’s Submitted Response to the UK Government Online Harms White Paper

On April 8, 2019, the UK's DCMS released the Online Harms White Paper, proposing measures to tackle illegal and harmful online behavior.

Tech Accountability and Safety, Tech Legislation and Regulation

November 21, 2019

An imprecise science: Assessing interventions for the prevention, disengagement and de-radicalisation of left and right-wing extremists

This report examines global approaches to challenging political extremism, based on 19 interviews with practitioners from seven countries.

Education, Far-Left Extremism, Far-Right Extremism, Resources, Training and Educational Resources

September 24, 2019

GCTF Countering Violent Extremism Toolkit

The Toolkit provides a practical guide for policy-makers in preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism online.

Resources, Terrorism and Extremism