Despite the declaration of military victory over ISIS in Iraq in 2017, the threat of extremism has not ended, but has moved to a new space, the digital space, where extremist groups are exploiting online platforms to spread their ideas and deepen social and political divisions.
A recent report by the European Center for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies (ECCI) revealed that organizations like ISIS use social media platforms such as Telegram, Discord, and Twitter to spread propaganda, teach explosives, and even fake photos and videos using artificial intelligence techniques.
The report emphasizes that poverty, unemployment, and sectarian divisions in Iraq contribute to making young people easily susceptible to being recruited and influenced by such content.
The report also points to the absence of modern laws criminalizing cyber incitement, as well as weak digital infrastructure, which makes it easier for extremist groups to hack government websites and official social media accounts. Security agencies lack the necessary training and equipment to keep up with the evolution of digital extremism.
The report says that Iraq has taken steps to confront this threat, such as establishing a cybercrime unit at the Ministry of Interior, cooperating with international organizations to train investigators and judges, and launching awareness campaigns for youth.
Iraq has also joined the international coalition against ISIS to share intelligence on the digital activity of extremist groups, but efforts still need an integrated national strategy.
The role of civil society and missed opportunities
Community initiatives, such as Digital Peace's "#Think Before You Share" campaign, highlight the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of online radicalization, but face a lack of support and collaboration with major tech companies.
The report recommends a comprehensive national strategy to combat digital extremism, including updating legislation, promoting digital education, supporting youth initiatives, and establishing a specialized government unit to monitor the digital space and analyze hate speech.
The report recommends increasing international cooperation, signing agreements with tech companies to facilitate the removal of extremist content, and joining international initiatives to combat digital terrorism.
The report emphasizes that combating digital extremism is not just a security task, but a battle for society's consciousness, requiring a delicate balance between protecting digital security and ensuring freedom of expression.
He concludes that building a safe digital environment in Iraq requires legal reforms, technological investments, strengthening international cooperation, and activating the role of civil society as the first line of defense.
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