Recruitment and Propaganda Online
According to specialists, modern terrorist groups actively use social networks to spread their ideas, seek supporters, and coordinate actions.By utilizing fake news, propaganda campaigns, and information wars, they exert psychological influence on vulnerable individuals, trying to convince them to adopt extremist views or participate in terrorist activities.
Changing Approaches of Terrorists
After losing control over territories in the Middle East, the group "Islamic State" shifted the focus of its activities, concentrating on the online space.The organization now aims to spread its ideology through digital channels and encrypted messengers, especially among youth who actively use social platforms.
Experts emphasize that a so-called "hybrid model" is employed: local cells gain autonomy in operations, while central leadership maintains control over ideology.
Impact on South Asia
Online radicalization has a significant impact on countries in the Indian subcontinent. By 2024, extremist propaganda networks had reached states such as India and Bangladesh.With the rise of the "Taliban" in Afghanistan, terrorist groups "Islamic State – Khorasan" and "Al-Qaeda" have become more active.
Events at the Red Fort
Investigative authorities found that participants in the attack on the Red Fort on November 10, 2025, were recruited through social media. Due to their high level of education, this attack was characterized as "white-collar terrorism."The terrorists used the Swiss application Threema for communication, which provides encryption and does not store metadata, making it difficult for investigative agencies to operate.
Incident at Bondi Beach
Similar radicalization mechanisms were identified in the investigation of the attack on Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people during the Hanukkah celebrations.According to the investigation, the attackers had connections with "Islamic State" and underwent training in the southern Philippines, where the "Abu Sayyaf" group operates.
Tightening Control Over Social Media
In the face of the growing threat, several countries have begun to strengthen regulation of internet platforms. In Australia, a law was passed aimed at protecting youth from exploitation on social media, while in Malaysia, the "Internet Security Act" came into effect.In Singapore, a bill is being considered to maintain racial harmony and combat ethnic hatred, while in Indonesia, measures have been tightened under the SAMAN system for removing terrorist content.
India, for its part, blocked nearly 10,000 internet resources spreading extremist propaganda in 2025.
The Need for International Cooperation
Experts emphasize that combating online radicalization requires closer international cooperation, including information sharing between intelligence services and law enforcement agencies, as well as the development of unified legal mechanisms to regulate the digital space.Photo on the main page: www.eurasiareview.com.
