Digital Jihad

The purpose of this report is to increase the knowledge about how the so-called Islamic State (IS) use online propaganda to gain followers in the West. Even though IS have suffered significant territorial losses, the digital battle continues. Although large social media companies are effective in taking down IS propaganda, IS have proven to be remarkably industrious in finding ways to produce and disseminate their messages. Their ability to adapt to an everchanging digital landscape will likely keep the organisation alive by facilitating communication between supporters all over the world. This report gives a brief introduction to IS propaganda from different perspectives: the language used by IS, the branding of IS, the glossy magazines produced by IS and the role of women in IS propaganda. The report is financed by the project (Ku2016/01373/D - Uppdrag till Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut (FOI) att göra kartläggningar och analyser av våldsbejakande extremistisk propaganda) that has been assigned to the Swedish Defence Research Agency by the Swedish Government.