Manahil Ijaz
For terrorist organizations, internet is now being used as an instrument of
propaganda. There are experts in different areas of communication to operate the
media themselves. Modern terrorists have become aware of new opportunities for
exerting mass psychological impact using the latest means of mass communication.
Several terrorist organizations realized the potentials of media oriented
terror, in terms of effectively reaching huge audiences. The number of
militaries around the world like that of US, Israel and ISIS are already using
social media to gather intelligence, spread propaganda, recruit soldiers and
communicate with other militaries. ISIS has especially been effective in the use
of social media and other online media outlets.
The effective use of propaganda by the ISIS in psychological warfare has
accomplished the set objectives, essential for waging a war. Many statesmen and
military leaders acknowledged the usage of persuasion power in psychological
operations to achieve the national objectives and goals with the minimum
possible destruction. However after WW II psy warfare has regularly been used as
an effective and major weapon system. However the reason for the heavy usage of
propaganda in this kind of warfare was to create the favourable public opinion.
The technological advancements like radio, cinema, telephone and television had
caused the huge information explosion to transform the modern world into
‘Information Age’ also called the ‘Age of Propaganda’.
ISIS is well aware of the fact that the primary function of media is the
perception management rather than psychological manipulation. It exploits the
people’s perception to guide their thought towards certain direction. The war of
idea, thoughts and designs has to fight with profound thinking and research. The
minds need to be convinced through arguments and counter the propaganda through
physical evidences. For psychological warfare the choice of media communication
depends upon the target audience. Media engaged in national level operations are
usually classified as slow or fast. Slow media comprises of magazines, books,
pamphlets and lectures while the fast one largely relies on the electronic
communication. It includes the carefully timed statements by the officials to
gain the sufficient interests. In addition the intelligence requirements for
effective psy warfare are enormous.
There are various techniques used by media that influence the target audience’s
belief systems, emotions and behaviours. In short it controls the human mind and
heart and has become a weapon of psychological warfare. Psychological warfare
goes for any weapon to effect the adversary’s mind. Currently war related
actions are not conducted by troops. But the propaganda and tactics through
media have widespread with the time. In these kinds of warfare the covert
operations are not detected by the general public. The media manipulation and
these type of undercover operations effecting the society must be stopped.
ISIS is not just battling its way into the cities of Iraq but fighting for the
global support and action by social media strategy defining their propaganda. A
string of Twitter accounts has been active in providing live updates and images
about the group’s operations. The accounts are not officially used by the ISIS
but promoted by online supporters. ISIS has launched the social media campaign
and is posting mainly on Twitter the photos and statements to show its military
strength and territorial advance in Iraq. At the centre of campaign the video
released, in which Al Baghdadi targeted the Sunni youths to join ISIS jihad. The
‘one billion campaign’ launched which called the Muslims from around the globe
to join and support the ISIS cause especially on Fridays or to travel to Iraq to
fight.
Al-Hayat Media Centre also produced the video presenting the translation of ISIS
song, ‘Let's go for Jihad, which calls for people to rush to the battlefield,
claim your victory and slaughter until the Day of Judgment’. The footage heavy
with explosions, gunfire and slow motion effects looks as though it could have
been lifted from a video game which is another sign targeting the young
audience. It is all because of a range of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and
Instagram accounts that followers are updated about the latest news and battle
in Iraq.
ISIS stands apart in using the social media to fulfill its goals. The main
objective of its communication strategy is to persuade all Muslims that fighting
to restore the Caliphate is the religious duty. The messages of predictable
victories present them as fearsome warriors. The images of execution and
beheadings are projected to intimidate the opponents. These types of images are
used to build the support among fellow travelers and recruit the new members.
The group shows the skills of propaganda, using the social media and cyber
technology to new fighters, and frightens the enemy.
ISIS is following a well-planned strategy. It chooses photos having the
potential of strong impact to create fear among its enemies and admiration of
other radical groups. The group’s online presence does not necessarily equate to
its popularity. The promotion of its messages and campaigns may indicate that it
does not have strong organic support.
In an attempt to limit the scope of ISIS, the Iraqi government blocked the
social media sites. Strong protests held against the closure of sites by IS
supporters blaming the Twitter administrators for the unprecedented attack on
their blogging sites. Twitter had also suspended the account of ISIS member
earlier in 2014. But blocking the media access did not show the significant
impact on public activities. Because the followers are attracted from all across
the Arab and Muslim world and the countermeasures had limited effect.
ISIS organizers are much aware of what social media can do for them and have
constructed not only strategies to use social networks and keep one step ahead
of having their accounts blocked, they have even created software apps to
maximize capturing the attention of a global audience. ISIS uses social media as
propaganda, financial and recruitment tool as well as a method of spreading psy
warfare. Current reports estimate that between 12,000 and 15,000 foreign
fighters are currently engaged in the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Although it
cannot be proved that social media played a definitive role in their
recruitment, ISIS’s online propaganda has often targeted westerners.
It can be stated that use of social media by organizations supporting terrorism
is a natural growth of the general acceptance of the ‘virtual space’, reflecting
its larger growth and popularity. However it is the very nature of social
networks, their ability to reach millions in moments, low cost of use and the
relative simplicity of staying ahead of account closure by the social feed
providers by switching to prepared accounts, using false names and different
profile photos which make it particularly attractive.
Of course the social networks do their best to remove such sites and act rapidly
upon receiving information or complaints from the public, but it is difficult to
gain the upper hand as, once a post is out there it is, well, out there.
(Manahil Ijaz is doing masters in the Defence and Diplomatic Studies at the
Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi)