VOX-Pol Newsletter 11(5) May 2024

Posted on May 14, 2024

Welcome to Volume 11, Issue 5 of the monthly VOX-Pol Newsletter.

NEW VOX-Pol REPORT

VOX-Pol is pleased to publish a new report AI Extremism: Technologies, Tactics, Actors. This report is written by Stephane Baele, Professor of International Relations at UCLouvain, and Lewys Brace, Senior Lecturer in Computational Social Science (Criminology) at Exeter University.

The report was published on 25 April and was followed by an online discussion event with the authors, moderated by Dr Ashley Mattheis. That recorded discussion is now available to watch on the VOX-Pol YouTube Channel.

All VOX-Pol Publications are available in full and for free on our Publications page. They can also be requested in print, HERE.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

VOX-Pol Member David Wells published a report, also on the topic of AI, for the Middle East Institute, The Next Paradigm-Shattering Threat? Right-Sizing the Potential Impacts of Generative AI on Terrorism. This article is available through the MEI website.

Ryan Scrivens has a new article published in Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, titled, Examining Online Behaviors of Violent and Non-Violent Right-Wing Extremists During Peak Posting Days. The article uses content analysis to examine postings from a unique sample of violent and non-violent right-wing extremists.

UPCOMING VOX-Pol WORKSHOP

VOX-Pol are pleased to announce our next online workshop on Borderline Online Content.  This virtual event will take place on 13 June 2024, at 9:15 UK time / 10:15 Germany.

The presenters will speak on topics around borderline, ‘hard to regulate’, content in the following four talks:

  • Heidi Schulze & Simon Greipl “A Little Less Hate, But a Lot More Harm – Fear Speech as Strategic Borderline Communication”
  • Hannah Rose: “Hybridised Online Hate and Extremism in the Israel/Gaza Conflict”
  • Ursula Schmid “Legitimizing hostility through humor: Perceptions and effects of humorous hate speech on social media”
  • Broderick McDonald “Lawful but Awful: Borderline Content and Human Rights”

Information on how to register is here.

VOX-Pol NEXT GEN NETWORK ON DISCORD

VOX-Pol has created a dedicated Discord channel as part of the Next Gen Network. This space is specifically geared towards early career researchers with the creation of a supportive community at its forefront. We want to build an environment geared towards the needs of young scholars researching online extremist spaces. 

Use the link to join the community today! Sign up is simple, free, and easy. We are excited to welcome you to this ECR space. 

The Next Gen Network is an academic platform dedicated to supporting ECRs with an interest in investigating online extremism. This initiative seeks to provide a space for the development of young academics and equip them with the proper resources necessary for success.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalisation to Terrorism (AVERT) International Research Symposium is taking place from 29 to 31 October 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.

The title of the symposium is People, Places and Spaces: New Dynamics and Shifting Responses to Violent Extremism. AVERT welcomes proposals for individual papers, panels, workshops, interactive sessions and presentations. More information is available HERE.

NEW FROM THE VOX-Pol BLOG

Articles from the last month on the VOX-Pol Blog: