Illicit Activities Beneath the Surface Web: Investigating Domestic Extremism on Anonymous Social Media Platforms

At the beginning of 2021, the Internet was used to spread words to incite insurrection and violence through social media, incited a pro-Trump mob riot into a U.S. Capitol building. Furthermore, due to recent acts of domestic terrorism in Texas, New Zealand, and California, police authorities have begun investigating social media presence that premeditated harmful acts. In all three instances, the shooters posted their manifesto online and had a presence on 8chan. The common thread among all shooters is their identification as a white nationalist and their social media site affiliation with Infinitechan, where they hid their radical ideas. Similarities in the shooters’ profiles include their perceived viewpoints of population groups regarding their political, ethnic, and social identities. This paper will provide insight into the forums where domestic terrorists spread their agendas. It will also set the foundation for further research towards a strategic algorithm that compiles and analyses relevant users’ profiles by using OSINT and data analytics techniques).

Counter-Extremism, PREVENT and the Extreme Right Wing: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges

In recent years, the extreme right wing (XRW) has undergone significant and rapid change to the extent that it now presents a very real threat to the domestic security of the United Kingdom (UK). This has resulted in a number of challenges for various stateex, institutional and grassroots stakeholders including how to appropriately and effectively respond and counter this growing threat. Among these challenges are concerns as to whether existing counter-tremism policies and measures – to date having almost solely been applied in response to Islamist extremism – remain fit for purpose. This Working Paper draws on interdisciplinary research into governmental, institutional and community responses to Islamist extremism in the city of Birmingham to speak directly to these concerns. Informed and contextualised by our findings, we provide an overview of counter-extremism policy, consider the criticisms and concerns expressed about these, set out the evidence base for the growing threat posed by the XRW, before highlighting a number of challenges stakeholders will need to consider if they are to avoid the errors of the past and build on the lessons learned. As well as making a new and timely contribution, we hope this paper will stimulate and provoke further discussion about the changing nature of the UK’s domestic extremism threat and the policy measures in place.