Counter-Radicalization Online
Lucia Santabarbara
Abstract
The spread of hate messages online perpetrated by terrorist and extremist groups represents one of the biggest threats that has caught the attention of governments, security forces, and national and international experts. Relevant contributions to countering hate speech and terrorist narratives online have been made by national governments, international organizations, and members of civil society. The various initiatives implemented have had private and public sponsors, but have also often been spontaneous and voluntary, aimed at making the world a better place. The objective of this analysis is to illustrate how the implementation of counter-narrative practices perpetrated by members of civil society is crucial to discouraging individuals surfing the Internet from consuming terrorist content available online. Moreover, such efforts are critical in combating online radicalization by lone wolves.