Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · May 20

✍️ NEW BLOG POST | ISKP’s Online and Militant Operations are Inextricably Linked

We’re excited to launch our blog series, which will showcase insights from TAT experts and leading voices in the field

Lucas Webber, a Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst at TAT, writes our first post: bit.ly/TATbpsb1lw

Blog Post: ISKP’s Online and Militant Operations are Inextricably Linked

The online activities of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP)’s robust and expanding propaganda apparatus directly strengthen its operational capacity to inflict violence locally, regionally, and in...

techagainstterrorism.org

1

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Apr 17

💻 Webinar | Under the Umbrella: The Significance of Unofficial Media Outlets in Terrorists' Use of the Internet

The webinar will explore the proliferation of unofficial VI propaganda outlets and how such networks exploit social media, encrypted applications, and TOWs

Register here: bit.ly/UtUTSUM

1

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Apr 10

🎙️ NEW EPISODE | The Evolution of the Islamic State: From Regional Force to Global Threat

In this episode, Lucas Webber is joined by Aaron Zelin to chart how IS expanded beyond the Middle East, using technology, propaganda, and local affiliates to spread its ideology globally

Listen: bit.ly/tat4e7x

2

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Mar 13

🎙️ NEW EPISODE | The Dark Side of Drone Tech: How Extremists Are Exploiting UAVs

Don Rassler joins Lucas Webber to discuss how terrorist organisations are using drones, the evolving threat landscape, and the countermeasures being developed to mitigate these risks.

Link: bit.ly/tat4e5

2 5

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Mar 11

📝 Would you like to write for Tech Against Terrorism?

Whether you are an academic, independent researcher, or a professional with an institutional affiliation we want to hear from you!

Click here to submit your proposal: lnkd.in/dagzWsaB

4

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Mar 11

📰 IN THE NEWS | Pakistan's Arrest Of Islamic State Operative

Read Lucas Webber's (Senior Intelligence Analyst at Tech Against Terrorism) insights on @rferl.org.web.brid.gy here: www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-a...

Pakistan's Arrest Of Islamic State Operative Signals Renewed U.S. Cooperation

The arrest of an Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) militant who is suspected of helping plan an attack against the U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2021 marks an upturn in strained ties between Washington an...

www.rferl.org

1 1

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Mar 3

Don't miss out on our upcoming webinar! 👉 2025 Online Threat Landscape: Forecasting Terrorism and Violent Extremism Trends.

📅 Date: Thursday, 6 March 2025
⏰ Time: 1530 GMT | 1630 CET | 0730 PT

More info here: techagainstterrorism.org/events/webin...

1 5

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Feb 24

🇫🇷 Join us in Lille for the Trust & Safety #InCyberForum!

Click the link for more info: trust-safety.forum-incyber.com
Click the link to register for our workshops: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

1

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Feb 20

🎙️ NEW EPISODE | Game On: How Simulations are Enhancing Counter-Terrorism Responses

In this episode, Lucas Webber is joined by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Eleanor Ross of Valens Games

They discuss how immersive wargames are shaping the future of counterterrorism training

Listen here: bit.ly/tat4e4

2 1

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Feb 18

📰 Would you like to join the Tech Against Terrorism team?

We are currently looking for a Press and Strategic Engagement Lead. Click here for more info: app.screenloop.com/careers/quan...

2

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Feb 6

🎙️ NEW EPISODE | The Rise of Jihadism in Central Asia

Lucas Webber is joined by @pannierb.bsky.social to map the history of terrorism in Central Asia

They explore:
💡 The origins of jihadism in Central Asia
💡 The rise of ISKP
💡 The impact of the Assad government’s fall

Listen here: bit.ly/TATep3

2 4

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Feb 4

🎙️ How New Technologies Are Fueling Terrorism

Have you tuned in to our podcast episode with
@colinpclarke.bsky.social & Clara Broekaert?

Find out:
🔎 How terrorists are using 3D printers
🔎 Why quantum computing poses an underestimated risk
🔎 The truth about AI misuse by terrorists

bit.ly/TATep2

2

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 23

🎙️ NEW EPISODE | How New Technologies Are Fueling Terrorism

Lucas Webber is joined by experts @colinpclarke.bsky.social and Clara Broekaert to explore how emerging technologies are transforming the threat landscape and what’s next on the horizon

Listen here: bit.ly/TATep2

4

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 22

📻 This morning, our Executive Director joined BBC Radio 5 to discuss pressing issues surrounding online radicalisation, the Southport attack, and the urgent need for stricter regulations on weapon sales online.

Listen to the full interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGDG...

BBC Radio 5: Southport attack, freedom of speech, and purchasing weapons online

YouTube video by Tech Against Terrorism

www.youtube.com

2 6

Reposted by Tech Against Terrorism

Aaron Y. Zelin @azelin.bsky.social · Jan 20

Davos calling. And yes, this is real. From Idlib to Davos in 6 weeks 🤯

1 6 31

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 17

➡️ “The Islamic State has aggressively and persistently leveraged hostile sentiments stirred up by the Israeli military response to Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack and the subsequent prolonged conflict"

Read our latest interview on @theguardian.com here: bit.ly/42k3Iv8

Role of US servicemen in acts of extremist violence under scrutiny

Active duty servicemen and veterans statistically most likely demographic to be ‘mass casualty offender’

bit.ly

1

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 17

💰 How do terrorist organisations raise, store and transfer finances?

To find out, listen to our latest podcast episode "Disrupting Terrorist Financing in the Digital Age" featuring Dr Jessica Davis (President and Principal Consultant at Insight Threat Intelligence.

Listen here: bit.ly/3ClX6Sj

Reposted by Tech Against Terrorism

Aaron Y. Zelin @azelin.bsky.social · Jan 11

Highlights: Caretaker government breaks up first Islamic State cell since fall of regime, Ahmad al-Shar'a meets delegations from Oman and Lebanon, Syrian caretaker FM travels to Saudi Arabia again, among other things

Aaron Y. Zelin @azelin.bsky.social · Jan 11

Diary of the Syrian Transition - January 11, 2025 www.jihadologyplus.com/p/diary-of-t...

Diary of the Syrian Transition - January 11, 2025

Highlights: Caretaker government breaks up first Islamic State cell since fall of regime, Ahmad al-Shar'a meets delegations from Oman and Lebanon, Syrian caretaker FM travels to Saudi Arabia again

www.jihadologyplus.com

3 13

Reposted by Tech Against Terrorism

Jihadoscope @jihadoscope.bsky.social · Dec 3

ISIS supporters report new wave of Telegram channel & account deletions totaling several thousand over past 2 days.
In latest purge, Telegram Messenger removed a resurgent network targeted earlier this year, as well as core Islamic State channels active for several years

3

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 9

🎙️ NEW EPISODE | Disrupting Terrorist Financing in the Digital Age

Introducing Season 4 of the Tech Against Terrorism Podcast!

Join Lucas Webber in conversation with the internationally renowned terrorism finance expert Dr Jessica Davis

Listen here: bit.ly/TAT4ep1

2

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 8

🔊 ANNOUNCEMENT | Season 4 of our podcast launches tomorrow!

Join us as we speak to the world’s leading experts in this field to uncover the latest insights, research, and strategies for tackling online extremism

Press play to listen to a snippet of Episode 1 featuring Dr Jessica Davis ⤵️

1 3

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 6

📰 IN THE NEWS | Deadly New Orleans attack underscores looming threat of IS attacks in the US

Lucas Webber, our senior threat intelligence analyst, shared his insights with The Guardian about the potential threat posed by IS to the US

Read the full article here: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Quote: “IS, its branches and pro-IS propaganda outlets have continued to heavily focus on the United States as a leading enemy and top priority target. Given IS’s evolving online guidance activities, it’s vital for governments to build open-source intelligence capabilities to identify and disrupt plots.”

1 3

Reposted by Tech Against Terrorism

Dr Yannick Veilleux-Lepage @yveilleuxlepage.bsky.social · Jan 5

The New Orleans and Las Vegas attacks show stark media bias: Jabbar's act labeled terrorism, Livelsberger's a "mental health tragedy." Our research finds Muslim-perpetrated attacks receive more coverage and are more often framed as ideological.

Full paper: pt.icct.nl/article/unco...

Uncovering the Bias and Prejudice in Reporting on Islamist and Non-Islamist Terrorist Attacks in British and US Newspapers | Perspectives on Terrorism

This article presents an empirical analysis that unveils systematic biases in how major US and UK print media outlets portray terrorist attacks carried out by Muslim versus non-Muslim perpetrators. Em...

pt.icct.nl

2 41 61

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 6

To be fair to Meta these bots have been around for some time without there being many issues. Perhaps best to get ahead and set good standards.

Question is: what are those standards and how can we encourage all platforms to adopt a common approach to GenAI profiles?

Lukasz Olejnik @lukaszolejnik.bsky.social · Jan 4

Meta envisions filling social networks with AI-generated bots that would blend with humans. Making it in ways indistinguishable from humans would be illegal considering EU AI Act. My assessment. blog.lukaszolejnik.com/filling-soci...

Filling social media with indistinguishable AI-bots is illegal with EU AI Act

Meta considers a future where AI-generated bots, avatars or artificial accounts seamlessly integrate into its platforms, filling networks with artificial agents that mimic human users. I must repeat: ...

blog.lukaszolejnik.com

Tech Against Terrorism @techvsterrorism.bsky.social · Jan 6

GenerativeAI is potentially a game-changer for content moderation - deploying it cost-effectively is the biggest challenge!

More generally SaaS products that integrate GenAI are going to struggle with passing on the variable costs associated with features enhanced by LLMs

Ed Zitron @edzitron.com · Jan 6

OpenAI is completely screwed. If they're losing money on $200/month, they're losing it on $20/month and their real costs are so much higher than they can ever get anyone to pay. A pale horse.

techcrunch.com/2025/01/05/o...