Recent years have shown that violent extremists are adept at adopting, adapting and applying the latest in digital technology to radicalise and recruit online. Events surrounding the conflict in Gaza have demonstrated how digital technologies are being used by actors on all sides, including violent extremists, to create and spread powerful, engaging and polarising content to great effect. With digital technology continuing to change and evolve apace, the online radicalisation and recruitment challenge is only going to become more profound. In this edition of the RAN Practitioners Update we take a look at some of these digital challenges and at some of the work being done by RAN Practitioners to address it. To do this, the Update features the latest RAN Practitioners Spotlight magazine, the latest RAN Practitioners film, as well as recent RAN Practitioners papers on the topic.
Gender
Training
In October and November 2023, we delivered a series of four training events for practitioners on ‘digital skills’, in Vienna, Lisbon, Warsaw and Helsinki, which explored how AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools can make it easier for practitioners to do their work online. Four more events are foreseen for the first part of 2024.
Film
We sent a film crew to two of the training events on ‘digital skills’, in Warsaw and Helsinki, to highlight some of the discussions which took place, capture the thoughts of some of the trainers and participants, and present some of the lessons learned.
Spotlight
A RAN Practitioners Spotlight magazine takes a look at the nature and scale of the radicalisation challenge on gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms, the use of gamified techniques by violent extremists, digital grooming tactics, and the opportunity for practitioners to use games to tackle a range of social harms.
Interview
We spoke with Galen Lamphere-Englund from the Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN) about violent extremists’ exploitation of gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms, and about the opportunity games and gaming presents for practitioners in P/CVE.
Publications
What’s going on online? Dealing with potential use of deepfakes by extremists
A RAN Practitioners paper from last year, explores the potential usages of artificial intelligence (AI) technology by extremists, and the implications for the field of P/CVE. The paper also provides a series of recommendations for how this technology can be used ‘for good’.
Countering the misuse of gaming-related content & spaces
A recent RAN Practitioners paper provides insights for practitioners on a range of practices which have been implemented by P/CVE actors in the gaming sphere to counter extremists’ exploitation of these spaces. The paper presents complementary, positive approaches to de-platforming and other measures.
Online Radicalisation in the Western Balkans: Trends and Responses
A paper produced by RAN in the Western Balkans, provides an overview of online radicalisation trends in the Western Balkans, including key narratives, actors, networks and online dissemination strategies. The paper describes the influence of the online space on radicalisation while dispelling some common myths.
Contact us
RAN Practitioners is implemented by RadarEurope, which is a subsidiary of the RadarGroup:
- Phone: +31 (0)20 468 06 08 (office)
- E-Mail: ran
radareurope [dot] nl (ran[at]radareurope[dot]nl)
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