MONITORING IS CONTENT
IS uses specific keywords and hashtags when new content is published. This allows for speedy dissemination of content. Using common terms and hashtags means content can be found and amplified by the group’s supporters, combating the platforms’ efforts to remove content quickly.
The content was traditionally shared on social media platforms, primarily Twitter and YouTube. Some hashtags and keywords used by IS and its supporters included:
- #الدولة_الاسلامية
- #أخبار_الخلافة
- #ولاية_
- #أنصار_الخلافة
- #دولة_الخلافة
- #وكالة_اعماق
- #اصدارات_الخلافة
Note: Daesh or Daish (داعش), which is the Arabic equivalent to the acronym ISIS, is a term that is widely used in the MENA region as a descriptor for the group. The term has negative connotations in Arabic. Therefore, IS media arms and supporters would never use the term.
In response to social platforms’ efforts, IS increased the use of closed networks, content archiving websites and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) websites, such as:
The Wayback Machine is a very useful tool to retrieve suspended accounts and deleted tweets.
Storyful identified a number of IS media organizations, some of which are listed here:
- Amaq News Agency وكالة أعماق
- al-Naba Weekly Newspaper صحيفة النبأ الأسبوعية
- Anbar Media Center المكتب الإعلامي لولاية الأنبار
- Dabiq Magazine مجلة دابق
Specifically in Mosul, the group published content via a number of media organizations, including:
A constant process of monitoring Telegram channels for links to new instances of the Amaq websites, and the websites for links to new Telegram channels, was necessary as web hosting services and Telegram moved to shut down new accounts and pages.
Just by searching the term الدولة الاسلامية (Islamic State) on archive.org, hundreds of pieces of IS content can by found.
