A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content

Waseem Afzal

doi:10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301056

A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content

Waseem Afzal

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Use of information networks by extremist groups to advance their totalitarian objectives is becoming a serious concern for global peace. The use of information networks is just one dimension; the other dimension and potentially more concerning is the production of sophisticated information content to influence public perception. One such group—the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)—utilizing the affordances of information networks coupled with the sophisticated information content has been able to recruit a large number of foreign fighters from Western countries and hence is posing a threat to the national security of various nations. This research study analyses the content produced by the ISIS with an objective to identify (1) informational properties of and (2) information strategies used in their content. Initial findings suggest that ISIS’s content is rich in information with affective, theological, political, and historical connotations. Furthermore, their content is designed with an objective to give highly positively and/or negatively skewed information.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Subtitle of host publication	Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information & Technology
Editors	Andrew Grove, Diane H. Sonnenwald, Lauren Harrison, Catherine Blake, Christian Schlögl, Isabella Peters, Barbara Endler-Jobst, Colleen Cool, Yin-Leng Theng
Place of Publication	United States
Publisher	Association for Information Science and Technology
Pages	1-10
Number of pages	10
Volume	53
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	0877155488
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301056
Publication status	Published - 2016
Event	2016 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: 79th ASIS&T Annual Meeting - Crown Plaza Copenhagen Towers, Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 14 Oct 2016 → 18 Oct 2016 https://www.asist.org/events/annual-meeting-2016/

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Publisher	Wiley
Number	1
Volume	53
ISSN (Electronic)	0044-7870

Conference

Conference	2016 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology
Abbreviated title	Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information Technology
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	14/10/16 → 18/10/16
Internet address	https://www.asist.org/events/annual-meeting-2016/

Access to Document

10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301056

Cite this

Afzal, W. (2016). A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content. In A. Grove, D. H. Sonnenwald, L. Harrison, C. Blake, C. Schlögl, I. Peters, B. Endler-Jobst, C. Cool, & Y-L. Theng (Eds.), Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information & Technology (1 ed., Vol. 53, pp. 1-10). (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology; Vol. 53, No. 1). Association for Information Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301056

Afzal, Waseem. / A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content. Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information & Technology. editor / Andrew Grove ; Diane H. Sonnenwald ; Lauren Harrison ; Catherine Blake ; Christian Schlögl ; Isabella Peters ; Barbara Endler-Jobst ; Colleen Cool ; Yin-Leng Theng. Vol. 53 1. ed. United States : Association for Information Science and Technology, 2016. pp. 1-10 (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology; 1).

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title = "A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content",

abstract = "Use of information networks by extremist groups to advance their totalitarian objectives is becoming a serious concern for global peace. The use of information networks is just one dimension; the other dimension and potentially more concerning is the production of sophisticated information content to influence public perception. One such group—the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)—utilizing the affordances of information networks coupled with the sophisticated information content has been able to recruit a large number of foreign fighters from Western countries and hence is posing a threat to the national security of various nations. This research study analyses the content produced by the ISIS with an objective to identify (1) informational properties of and (2) information strategies used in their content. Initial findings suggest that ISIS{\textquoteright}s content is rich in information with affective, theological, political, and historical connotations. Furthermore, their content is designed with an objective to give highly positively and/or negatively skewed information. ",

author = "Waseem Afzal",

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Afzal, W 2016, A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content. in A Grove, DH Sonnenwald, L Harrison, C Blake, C Schlögl, I Peters, B Endler-Jobst, C Cool & Y-L Theng (eds), Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information & Technology. 1 edn, vol. 53, Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, no. 1, vol. 53, Association for Information Science and Technology, United States, pp. 1-10, 2016 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14/10/16. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301056

A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content. / Afzal, Waseem.
Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information & Technology. ed. / Andrew Grove; Diane H. Sonnenwald; Lauren Harrison; Catherine Blake; Christian Schlögl; Isabella Peters; Barbara Endler-Jobst; Colleen Cool; Yin-Leng Theng. Vol. 53 1. ed. United States: Association for Information Science and Technology, 2016. p. 1-10 (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology; Vol. 53, No. 1).

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

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AU - Afzal, Waseem

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AB - Use of information networks by extremist groups to advance their totalitarian objectives is becoming a serious concern for global peace. The use of information networks is just one dimension; the other dimension and potentially more concerning is the production of sophisticated information content to influence public perception. One such group—the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)—utilizing the affordances of information networks coupled with the sophisticated information content has been able to recruit a large number of foreign fighters from Western countries and hence is posing a threat to the national security of various nations. This research study analyses the content produced by the ISIS with an objective to identify (1) informational properties of and (2) information strategies used in their content. Initial findings suggest that ISIS’s content is rich in information with affective, theological, political, and historical connotations. Furthermore, their content is designed with an objective to give highly positively and/or negatively skewed information.

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EP - 10

BT - Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology

A2 - Grove, Andrew

A2 - Sonnenwald, Diane H.

A2 - Harrison, Lauren

A2 - Blake, Catherine

A2 - Schlögl, Christian

A2 - Peters, Isabella

A2 - Endler-Jobst, Barbara

A2 - Cool, Colleen

A2 - Theng, Yin-Leng

PB - Association for Information Science and Technology

CY - United States

T2 - 2016 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology

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ER -

Afzal W. A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content. In Grove A, Sonnenwald DH, Harrison L, Blake C, Schlögl C, Peters I, Endler-Jobst B, Cool C, Theng Y-L, editors, Proceedings of the 79th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology: Creating Knowledge, Enhancing Lives through Information & Technology. 1 ed. Vol. 53. United States: Association for Information Science and Technology. 2016. p. 1-10. (Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology; 1). doi: 10.1002/pra2.2016.14505301056

A study of the informational properties of the ISIS's content

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