Social networks have made communication easier between people and this mode has been used for benevolent purposes and unfortunately to cause harm. The terrorist group ISIS (or ISIL) has been well documented using social media to carry out their heinous activities.
One of the most popular social networks, Twitter, has been used by terrorist groups like ISIS to push their agenda and for recruiting new people to the organization. After the terrorist attack in Paris which ISIS took responsibility, it made other organizations like Anonymous to take down ISIS accounts. This action made Twitter to claim that the lists Anonymous was using was wildly inaccurate and proceeded to release the number of accounts they have taken down cumulatively.
Since mid-2015, we have suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts. Read more here: https://t.co/FQJeOTtPLz
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) February 5, 2016
According to Twitter, they have been able to take down 125,000 accounts which are linked to extremist groups, primarily related to ISIS. “We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter rules make it clear that this type of behaviour, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service.”
Twitter also revealed that they have expanded the team that is dedicated to review reports of account submissions that could be spammy which has led to an increase in response times. They even quoted FBI’s Director who praised Twitter’s efforts as “very good and thoughtful and hardworking at trying to shut down terrorism-related accounts.”
The biggest hurdle for Twitter and other social media companies is identifying these accounts that are targeted to cause terror. This is why they rely on reports submitted by users and partnering with relevant authorities so as to fight terrorism related acts online.