A Hashtag Perspective: Examining ISIS Supporter Activities on Twitter in Türkiye between 2019 and 2022

This study explores the Twitter activities of Turkish supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from 2019 to 2022, focusing on hashtag usage patterns. As a central part of ISIS's online strategy, hashtags are pivotal in disseminating propaganda, coordinating campaigns, and soliciting support. By analyzing 202,327 tweets, this research offers insights into thematic priorities and interconnections within ISIS-related discourse. Employing descriptive and network analyses, key findings reveal a steady increase in ISIS-supportive tweets, the emergence of clusters around aid and familial support, and distinct, unconnected hashtag groups reflecting various narratives. Hashtags related to financial aid, such as #saveprisoners and #elholcamp, emerge as central, highlighting a covert system of funding through social media and encrypted communication. This paper underscores the complexity of ISIS's digital influence in Türkiye, emphasizing the need for multifaceted countermeasures involving tech platforms, security forces, and media awareness campaigns to combat online extremist activities effectively.

LINK: https://gnet-research.org/2024/08/07/a-hashtag-perspective-examining-isis-supporter-activities-on-twitter-in-turkiye-between-2019-and-2022/

Bridging Disciplinary Gaps and Methodological Challenges in Understanding Deepfake Discourse: A Study of Turkish Reddit Posts Related to Deepfake

Abstract

This study explores the evolving landscape of deepfake discussions, focusing particularly on Turkish posts on Reddit. While deepfake technology gained prominence in 2017, the academic community's interest surged, with studies primarily concentrating on deepfake detection. However, there is a dearth of research on public perceptions and online discourse surrounding deepfake. Through text analysis, this study explores Turkish Reddit posts, uncovering that a substantial portion (69.4%) focuses on deepfakes with sexual content, particularly featuring celebrities (60.2%). Politics also emerges as a prominent theme, constituting 22% of the content, with an additional 8.6% dedicated to technical aspects of deepfake creation. Over time, posts on sexual deepfake content, particularly those featuring celebrities, dominate, but during the May 2023 presidential and general elections, political deepfakes gained traction. Despite shedding light on content trends, the study faces two significant limitations. The first limitation is methodological. Studies relying solely on text analysis struggle to offer comprehensive insights into people's perceptions of deepfake. Therefore, a more profound understanding can be attained through qualitative face-to-face interviews, allowing for a deeper exploration of individuals' perspectives. The second limitation is disciplinary. Research encompassing diverse disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and media studies would yield more nuanced results in comprehending both the broader framework of public and societal perceptions on the topic and their deeper intricacies.

Key words: Deepfake, Türkiye, Reddit, Interdisciplinary Approach, Dictionary-based Text Analysis, Mixed Methods

Link: https://ojs.library.carleton.ca/index.php/J-ICSLAC/article/view/4839/3551

Comparative Analysis of the Content of Online Magazines of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Different Languages: Dabiq, Rumiyah, and Konstantiniyye

 Abstract

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) effectively uses online magazines for propaganda, leveraging advanced internet technologies to disseminate its message in multiple languages. This study investigates ISIS's use of online magazines to promote its self-proclaimed jihad and attract recruits globally. While existing research examines ISIS's multilingual magazines, few studies comprehensively compare them across languages. This study conducts a text analysis of Dabiq and Rumiyah in English and Konstantiniyye in Turkish. The findings reveal that all magazines construct distinct “us” versus “them” identities, focusing on religion and justification. Konstantiniyye, targeting Turkish Muslims, emphasizes stronger religious themes compared to Dabiq and Rumiyah. Overall, these magazines discuss legal systems, jihad, state structure, and social order, advocating for Muslim unification under a single “caliphate.” This analysis sheds light on ISIS's diverse propaganda strategies tailored to different linguistic contexts.

Keywords: Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS); Dictionary-based Analysis; Dabiq; Rumiyah; Konstantiniyye

LINK:  https://journals.tplondon.com/ipr/article/view/3313

A Comprehensive Analysis of Public Discourse and Content Trends in Turkish Reddit Posts Related to Deepfake

ABSTRACT 

This study investigates the content and changes in deepfakes-related discussions on 5,220 Turkish Reddit posts from October 2019 to August 2023. Although the academic community has shown an increasing interest in deepfakes since 2017, focusing on detection methods and the technology itself, scant attention has been paid to public perceptions and online debate. The analysis reveals that 69.4% of the examined posts feature deepfake content with sexual themes, with celebrity women being the primary targets in 60.2% of cases. In contrast, 22% of the content is about politics and political figures, while 8.6% provides technical guidance on creating deepfakes. The study also observes content changes over time, noticing a rise in sexually explicit deepfake posts, particularly involving celebrities. However, in May 2023, coinciding with the presidential and general elections in Türkiye, discussions about politics and political figures have significantly increased. This study sheds light on the changing landscape of discussions, emphasizing the predominant presence of sexual content and the increasing prevalence of political content, particularly during election seasons. 

LINK: https://iga.pknu.ac.kr:446/html/jga/online-jga.php?mode=view&idx=28

Terrorism-Related Topic In The Language Of Fake News In Indonesia

The discussion on the relations between terrorism and social media mainly focuses on social media's role in spreading terrorism ideology and recruiting a member of the terrorist group. However, social media has also become means to share fake news related to terrorism. Considering the relationship between fake news and terrorism, the primary purpose of this study is to examine the content, language used, and emotion of fake news about terrorism in Indonesia. It also revelas what kind of language is used in fake news to manipulate the public and what emotions it appeals to? We analyzed fake news about terrorism in Indonesia using quantitative text analysis methods, such as sentiment analysis and dictionary-based analysis methods with R statistical software. We created two dictionaries covering religious and violent words, and fake news was examined under these two dictionaries. For reliability, we applied the "Split-half test" to the results and we reached similar results. This study shows that ISIS, Aceh, and terrorist action in Sulawesi are three dominant topics in fake news. Second, the language on fake news is mostly about terrorism and violence to create fear in society. Third, violence and religious language are equal in the language of misleading content. We interpreted the results obtained with the traditional fear of crime theory. We then discussed the significant results of this research and made effort to explain the reasons behind our research results. The study has a limitation because of the small number of fake news. Future studies may overcome this limitation by selecting multiple countries as cases or increasing the data range of fake news. The dictionary-based method we used in this study is relatively new to the literature and provides the opportunity to analyze fake news content effectively. Our results using the Dictionary-based method can provide valuable clues for policymakers in the counter-terrorism field.

Link: https://ejournal.upnvj.ac.id/index.php/JM/article/view/MJIHI%20_01

Examining ISIS's Turkish Sympathizers on Twitter

Abstract

Social media platforms have become a part of people's daily lives. However, developing social media technologies have affected not only people but also terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and social media has become an essential part of ISIS's strategies. ISIS effectively uses many social media platforms, especially Twitter, for propaganda, recruitment, and creating fear among people. ISIS also actively uses Twitter in Turkey. However, the number of academic studies focusing on the behavior, structure, communication, and relationship networks of ISIS sympathizers in Turkey is limited. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to reveal the structure, behavior, communication, and relationship networks of ISIS's Turkish sympathizers. Accordingly, this study focuses on the structure, behavior, communication, and relationship networks of ISIS's Turkish sympathizers. I will analyze them within four main analytical steps. The basic characteristics, structures, behaviors, and relationship networks of 2079 Turkish ISIS sympathizers are examined with the R computer program, and many remarkable findings are reached as a result of the analysis.

Keywords: ISIS' Turkish Supporters, Twitter Analysis, Network Analysis, Correlation Analysis, Social Media

LINK: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/icps/issue/74445/1183919

 ISIS Religious and Extremist Propaganda on Social Media: Dictionary-Based Study of Twitter

Abstract

The world had faced with many terrorist organizations until 2014. However, after 2014, the world faced with the most complicated terrorist organization. This terrorist organization is ISIS or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. ISIS has been running a more different propaganda campaign, emphasizing the state-building and welfare schemes run by this organization and these elements make ISIS more complicated. ISIS has been very well integrated into the new technology such as social media and smartphone and ISIS has been using them very effectively. Especially Twitter has become a major component of ISIS social media movement. Twitter was used to spread sensationalistic ISIS photos and videos across the Twitter users. While ISIS spread fear and messages on twitter, at the same time it also gained supporters. However, it is seen that ISIS’ sympathizer uses different jargons in terms of their number of followers in twitter. As a result of my research, I found that users with more followers used a stronger violence jargon on Twitter, while users with fewer followers using a softer and more religious language. Users with less followers were an emphasis on unity and religion, while users with more followers encouraging physical violence such as lone wolf attacks and killing enemy appeared more often on Twitter. Dictionary-based analysis of ISIS' and its sympathizers' tweets were performed. This dictionary-based research creates a typology to explain and categorize tweets from ISIS and its followers. For reliability, "Split-half test" was applied to the results and similar results were reached.

Keywords: ISIS, Twitter, Dictionary-Based Analysis, Propaganda

RELATED LINK: https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/isis-religious-and-extremist-propaganda-social-media-dictionary-based-study-twitter

Trend Topic Analysis with R

Twitter is one of the most popular social media applications in recent years. With the R program, it is possible to analyze many data from Twitter. Two of these analyzes are sentiment and polarity analysis.

These analyzes were applied to one of the trend topics on Twitter. For this purpose, the first trend topics in the world were found with "getTrend ()" function. As a results of this research, the most popular trend topic is #gretathunberg.

Afterwards, tweets were cleaned and sentiment and polarity analysis were performed.

First, polarity analysis was performed. As a results of this analysis, the majority of tweets related to #gretathumberg are positive.

Figure 1: polarity analysis

Secondly, sentiment analysis was performed. According to this analysis, anticipation and trust are the most dominant feelings among tweets.

Figure 2: Sentiment analysis (second column is anticipation.)

Finally, the most popular devices, which are used to post on twitter, were analyzed. Twitter web app and twitter android are the most used software.

Figure 3: Most used software and devices

Terrorism Dilemma

Terrorism has been one of the most remarkable issues in recent years. Many scholars argue about terrorism. However, the lack of a definition of terrorism complicates the issue.

The most acceptable definition of terror in the world is the CIA's definition of terror. This study uses the CIA's definition of terrorism. According to Central Intelligence Agency (2007), terrorism means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience.

This definition is quite clear. Based on this definition, the YPG in Syria is a terrorist organization. However, many Western countries and the United States do not recognize YPG as terrorists. But this organization has caused the deaths of many innocent people in Turkey. Nevertheless, the media of many countries continue to have positive news about this organization. In addition, there are also positive news about the terrorist organization on Twitter.

For this purpose, sentiment and polarity analysis related with YPG in CNN, The New York Times and Twitter was performed.

                       

      

                                      Figure 1: Polarity result of CNN

Firstly, CNN's latest news about ypg is examined. The analysis revealed that the CNN's news was very positive about YPG. The most commonly used sentiment in the news about YPG is trust.

                               

                                          Figure 2: Sentiment result of CNN

            Secondly, the last news of the new york times about ypg was analyzed. Similar results were obtained with CNN. The new york times ypg news is also very positive. The most commonly used sentiment in the New York Times’ news about YPG is trust.

                                                Figure 3: Polarity result of New York Times

                                               Figure 4: Sentiment result of New York Times

Finally, the last 100 tweets about YPG on Twitter were analyzed. Twitter also has positive tweets about YPG, like CNN and New York Time. The most commonly used sentiment in twitter about YPG is fear. Tweets about ISIS raise the fear rate. That’s why fear was the most common sentiment in this anaysis.

                                      Figure 5: Polarity result of Tweets

                                      Figure 6: Sentiment result of Tweets

As seen above, there are positive views on YPG, which many countries recognize as terrorist organizations, in the media and social media. 

Protests in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is definitely different from other Chinese cities. Hong Kong was a British colony for more than 150 years - part of it, Hong Kong island, was ceded to the UK after a war in 1842. 

The territory was also popular with migrants and dissidents fleeing instability, poverty or persecution in mainland China.

Then, in the early 1980s, as the deadline for the 99-year-lease approached, Britain and China began talks on the future of Hong Kong - with the communist government in China arguing that all of Hong Kong should be returned to Chinese rule.

The two sides reached a deal in 1984 that would see Hong Kong return to China in 1997, under the principle of "one country, two systems".

As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system and borders, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected.

However, the country is currently on the agenda with great uprisings. Protests have continued in Hong Kong since April. The reason for these protests is the act adopted by the Hong Kong parliament. This act would have allowed extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China. 

The adoption of this law attracted the reaction of many people, especially young people. This reaction quickly turned into protests.

Western media soon began to follow the protests closely. Almost every day, many biased news about protests are shared. For this reason, CNN's news from May to August was examined.

First, the most used words were examined. The results of this research are as follows;

 [1] "after"          "also"           "and"            "are"            "arrested"       "been"           "bill"           "but"            "china"          "city"           "demonstrations"
[12] "extradition"    "for"            "from"           "had"            "has"            "have"           "hong"           "including"      "kong"           "last"           "long"       
[23] "monday"         "more"           "night"          "not"            "one"            "party"          "people"         "police"         "political"      "protest"        "protesters" 
[34] "protests"       "said"           "since"          "sunday"         "than"           "that"           "the"            "their"          "they"           "two"            "was"         
[45] "were"           "which"          "will"           "with"           "yuen"

Then, correlation analysis of some of the most commonly used words was examined. The first of the examined words is the China. The correlation analysis of the "China" word is as follows;

   mainland         mob         unlawful       station     between 
           0.98        0.98               0.98             0.97        0.96             
         movement      unrest                    accusations
               0.80        0.79                           0.76
   

As can be seen, one of the words with the highest correlation with China is unlawful. Then the correlation analysis of the word "police" was examined. The correlation analysis of the "police" word is as follows;

consecutive       march         weeks        people     kok          mong       
1.00                    1.00          1.00          0.96          0.92          0.92                 
demonstrators   extradition       support
          0.79          0.79                  0.79
       island         
         0.78       
As it is seen, the words that have the highest correlation with the word police are people, mong kok (one of the areas where protests continue) and arrest. Finally, the most commonly used words are shown in a graph.