"Academic research into terrorism and online radicalisation has spiked in recent years, arguably caused, in part, by the rise of Islamic State (IS). IS stresses the importance of media mujahideen and then relies on them to convey propaganda messages. These then proliferate in the form of hundreds of videos and photographs containing graphic violence. The resulting demands on the research community to collect and interpret this data can be unprecedented. Many – myself included – get invitations to present our results, not only in academic journals but also to international organisations, peace-building initiatives, and the security sector. This includes the highest level of international governance. However, in this line of work, risks and an underlying concern about the personal consequences of researching extremism online can occur."

Tags: research, academia