Far right extremism

Latest

Anatomy of a Disinformation Empire: Investigating NaturalNews

This report presents the findings of an extensive investigation into a network of domains connected to NaturalNews, a US-based commercial enterprise and website promoting conspiracy theories and disinformation. This investigation shines a light on the endurance of coordinated disinformation networks on and off social media platforms, as well as the challenges for and remaining limitations of technological companies’ responses to such threats.

An Online Environmental Scan of Right-wing Extremism in Canada

ISD researchers have assessed the scale of Canadian right-wing extremist activity across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 4chan, Gab, Fascist Forge and Iron March. Over the next year we will analyse extremism on these platforms in more detail, and incorporate additional digital forums into our study. This represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to assess the scale of right-wing extremist activity online in Canada.

The Online Ecosystem of the German Far-Right

This report presents the findings of a research project of ISD’s Digital Analysis Unit about the alternative online-ecosystem of the far-right, including alternative social media platforms and alternative media outlets.

Das Online-Ökosystem Rechtsextremer Akteure

Dieser Report präsentiert die Ergebnisse eines Forschungsprojekts der Digital Analysis Unit am ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) über das alternative Online-Ökosystem rechtsextremer Akteure, einschließlich alternativer Social-Media-Plattformen und alternativer Medien.

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

This report examines intervention approaches currently being used to challenge political extremism globally, drawing on 19 interviews with practitioners based in Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, the UK and USA.

‘The Great Replacement’: The Violent Consequences of Mainstreamed Extremism

This report presents the findings of a project that investigated the prevalence, scale and nature of the ideologies and narratives that motivated the attack which left 51 dead and injured 50 more during Friday prayers at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.

“Make Germany Great Again” – Kremlin, Alt-Right and International Influences in the 2017 German Elections

This report presents the findings of a project that investigated Kremlin and other foreign attempts to influence the 2017 German elections. The project uncovered the tactics and narratives employed by Kremlin-sponsored media, pro-Kremlin social media networks and the international alt right to distort political discourse during the election campaign period.

The Impact of Brexit on far-right groups in the UK: Research Briefing

This research briefing uncovers the impact of both the announcement of the Brexit vote and the murder of Jo Cox MP on UK far-right groups. Monitoring and analysing the presence of these groups on Twitter shows that followership of all of the five groups studied increased following these two events.

“Mainstreaming Mussolini” – How the Extreme Right Attempted to ‘Make Italy Great Again’ in the 2018 Italian Election

This briefing paper documents attempts by Italian extreme-right activists to influence the recent Italian elections in their favour. It highlights how these activists are adopting an increasingly international perspective, influencing and being influenced by the international alt-right, and adopting tactics similar to those deployed in recent European elections, including the German election.

Hassrede und Radikalisierung im Netz (Deutsch)

Hate Speech and Radicalisation in the Network, published by the Online Civil Courage Initiative (OCCI), a programme of ISD and Facebook, brings together a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives to explore the prevalence of hate speech on social media, the strategies and tactics of Islamist and far-right extremist groups online, the potential impact of disinformation on political polarisation and radicalisation, and how government, the private sector and civil society can respond to these challenges.