Detecting Markers of Radicalisation in Social Media Posts: Insights From Modified Delphi Technique and Literature Review

• Published in: International journal of cyber warfare and terrorism Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 12 - 28
• Main Author: Neo, Loo Seng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hershey IGI Global 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Delphi method; Digital media; Electronic warfare; Extremism; Indicators; Internet; Knowledge acquisition; Literature reviews; Mass media; Radicalism; Research design; Risk assessment; Risk factors; Social media; Social networks; Terrorism; Singapore
• ISSN: 1947-3435; 1947-3443
• DOI: 10.4018/IJCWT.2021040102

This study involved the creation of factors and indicators that can detect radicalization in social media posts. A concurrent approach of an expert knowledge acquisition process (modified Delphi technique) and literature review was utilized. Seven Singapore subject-matter experts in the field of terrorism evaluated factors that were collated from six terrorism risk assessment tools (ERG 22+, IVP, TRAP-18, MLG, VERA-2, and Cyber-VERA). They identify those that are of most considerable relevance for detecting radicalization in social media posts. A parallel literature review on online radicalization was conducted to complement the findings from the expert panel. In doing so, 12 factors and their 42 observable indicators were derived. These factors and indicators have the potential to guide the development of cyber-focused screening tools to detect radicalization in social media posts.