Identifying Extremists Through OSINT

Individuals have a free platform in which they can promote their beliefs and ideologies and platforms and gain followers with those same beliefs. In today’s society, some may only think of terrorists when they hear the word extremists, however extremists can take many different forms. Some of the sub-categories of extremists include hate groups (ex. Anarchists), radical left wing and right-wing groups, religious extremists, and the list goes on. Extremists have been known to utilize Facebook the most for radicalization. They also use Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and various messaging apps to promote their extremist agendas. Of course, each platform has restrictions that they try to enforce, but it can be fairly easy to learn loopholes for each platform. Those pushing their radical beliefs will utilize social media and the internet to spread hateful narratives and propaganda, finance, recruit, and share operational information to their followers.

It can be fairly easy for extremists to promote their views because they can remain anonymous, never having to reveal their true identity. Individuals will scroll past extremists political posts and not even realize they are consuming these radical beliefs

More individuals are gaining access to the internet and social media everyday. In fact, as of January 2021, approximately 4.66 billion people were active on the internet around the globe.This provides a free platform for extremists to spread their beliefs, whether they are true or not. Extremists can reach out to individuals via private messages or post comments in an attempt to recruit and grow their support. Extremists may recruit social media users that may have no intentions of attempting an attack, in order to create cells. It can be fairly easy for extremists to promote their views because they can remain anonymous, never having to reveal their true identity. Individuals will scroll past extremists political posts and not even realize they are consuming these radical beliefs. These beliefs that can be posted in half a second, are driving a divide across the nation and even across the world. Social media has made it possible for society to view protests, propaganda, political and historical events all while sitting from the comfort of their homes. SMI Aware can identify extremism on social media platforms through open source intelligence collection and analysis. We can search through posts, photos, interests, and associates and summarize their beliefs, motives, and platform.

Bibliography

• https://www.police1.com/investigations/articles/using-webint-and-osint-to-tackle-extremist-groups-Fvy2So5OzaAoNLTC/
• https://www.ivint.org/the-rise-of-digital-extremism-how-social-media-eroded-americas-political-stability/