By Eissa Al-Shamani
RIYADH – The number of terrorist text and voice messages promoted through the Internet and social media networks dwindled this year compared to 2014 and 2015, according to a statistical report published by Sakeena campaign to combat terrorism.
“In 2015, for example, Daesh (the so-called IS) terror group used to publish new video and voice messages daily,” said a Sakeena official. “In 2016, this has been reduced to one video and voice message weekly. We have noticed the number of messages fluctuating, going up and down.”
Sakeena emphasized the need to follow websites set up by terrorist groups to promote their thoughts and activities through the Internet, their main media organ. “They use the Internet to mislead their followers and supporters by providing them with false information,” it added.
The report said Daesh published the largest number of 90 voice and video messages in November 2014 and were exchanged through the social media networks.
“But in November 2016, their media activity decreased to 20 messages only,” the report pointed out. Daesh’s electronic platforms play a significant role in promoting its deviant ideology, recruiting militants and organizing terrorist operations around the world.
The terrorist organization’s main electronic platforms are Al-Furqan, Al-Etisam, Al-Hayat, Soundcloud, and Al-Ajnad. All of them have foreign language sections and radio services in English.
Sakeena has been monitoring Daesh’s electronic platforms, the number of its followers and the volume of messages exchanged as part of its efforts to combat terrorism.
After receiving 600 points in the peak days of 2014, the platforms’ performance dwindled to 40 points in 2016, the report explained. The report shows the decreasing popularity of Daesh and other terrorist organizations as a result of international anti-terror campaign.
