FONDAMENTALISMO ISLAMICO E NUOVI MEDIA: ANALISI DELLE TECNICHE DI CYBERTERRORISMO E CYBER JIHAD

Islamic terrorism turned into media terrorism or cyberterrorism with the advent of digital age. The Internet therefore has become the virtual space where cyber jihād is carried out using sophisticate propaganda strategies. This study aims to determine how Islamic fundamentalist groups exactly act on the web in order to spread jihadist ideology. Specifically, it investigates whether Internet and new media have an impact on the proliferation of Islamic radicalism. In this context, Islamic radicalization refers to the process through which individuals embrace radical ideas to pursue violent jihād. To prove the hypothesis that online communications strengthen the Islamic terrorism proliferation, this analysis focused on the development of online fundamentalist groups’ activities, training and communications. The methodology adopted is based on a vertical approach. Firstly, the dissertation studied the main ideologues of the global jihād doctrine. Secondly, it examined the developments of the Islamic radicalism phenomenon and the operations pursued by Islamic terrorist organisations both in the Surface Web and the Dark or Deep Web. Finally, the research analysed the multimedia contents in support of the multimodal Islamic terrorist propaganda, with a focus on magazines published by jihadi press, videos and anāšīd hymns promoting jihād. The results demonstrated that a media or cyber jihād has emerged on the cyberspace. These outcomes suggest that the Internet allows the global widespread of Jihadism and facilitates Islamic radicalization by providing methods and tools to become a well-qualified terrorist. Thus, Islamic fundamentalism has not been effectively curbed, despite of all counterterrorism efforts. In line with these conclusions, attempts to combat terrorism should focus on deconstructing jihadi propaganda materials and advising young people about the hidden risks of these persuasive messages.