Virtually Islamic News – Page 111 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Wed 21 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 3-1-2024AD
Academia, Research

New and noted

New and noted: The new issue of Medya ve Din Araştırmaları Dergisi has just appeared. It has several open-access articles relevant to those working on religion and media. Highlights...

Tue 20 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 2-1-2024AD
Iran, Iran internet, Iran Protests 2024, Iranian internet

Iranian Culture

Tue 20 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 2-1-2024AD
China,, Human Rights, Uighurs,

Hack reveals Uyghur Camp Photos

Tue 20 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 2-1-2024AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet

Indonesia Online Gambling Crackdown

James Jones, Indonesia continues crackdown on online gambling content, 2 Jan 2024 “Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo) has blocked access to over 800,000 forms of gambling-related online...

Sun 18 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 31-12-2023AD
Indonesia, Indonesia Internet

Indonesia 2023 Social Media Roundup

SCMP, Indonesia’s 2023 social media roller coaster: bad behaviour in Bali, blasphemy, and a rising star. 31 Dec 2023 “Indonesia’s online space was rocked by blasphemy arrests, exploitation concerns,...

Sun 18 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 31-12-2023AD
Human Rights, Refugees, Sudan, Sudan internet

Sudan – a Reminder

Sun 18 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 31-12-2023AD
documentaries, News Media, Palestine

John Pilger

Fri 16 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 29-12-2023AD
Bitcoin,, Indonesia, Indonesia Internet

Indonesia Bitcoin Mining Theft

Shenna Peter, SCMP, Indonesian Authorities Crack Down on Bitcoin Miners Stealing Electricity From National Grid, 29 Dec 2023 “Indonesian authorities raided ten sites suspected of mining bitcoin with stolen...

Wed 14 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 27-12-2023AD
Houthi, Iran, Iran Protests 2023

Iran-Houthi AIS

Stephen Bryen, Asia Times, Iran-Houthis tap AIS tracking tech for high sea attacks, 25 Dec 2023 “Iran and the Houthis have been tapping into the Automated Tracking System (AIS)...

Sun 11 Jumada Al Akhira 1445AH 24-12-2023AD
Censorship, Cyber Security, Turkey, Turkey Internet

Turkish VPN Bans

TechRadar, What’s the newest wave of Turkey VPN bans tell us about the country’s internet? “Around 16 Turkey VPN providers have been targeted by a new wave of censorship, Deutsche Welle’s...

Islamic Algorithms – book cover

Gary R. Bunt, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2024)

Explore the book

Paperback, hardback and ebook editions are available now.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Prof. Gary R. Bunt, 2026

Comments

“Gary Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms explores the dynamic relationship between technology shifts and the evolving engagement of Muslims online. Bunt emphasises the unchanging core of Islam, adapting its expression to developing technology. A testament to Bunt’s brilliance in the ever-changing Cyber Islamic Environments, this is a must-read for those interested in Islamic studies, digital Islam and Muslim metaverses.” ―Eva Nisa, Senior Lecturer of Anthropology, The Australian National University, Australia

“A timely and insightful exploration, the book offers a concise yet comprehensive glimpse into the evolving landscape of Cyber Islamic Environments. From the serene halls of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque to the potential realms of Muslim metaverses, this book takes readers on a journey to unveil the dynamic relationship between Islam and technology. In a world where smartphones guide prayers and iPads connect elders in study groups, Bunt shares a compelling and timely perspective on the evolving relationship between Islam, technology and the digital age.” ―Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Leuven, Belgium

Bibliography and Glossary

Review by Michael Dhanoya (University of Leicester) in LSE Blogs

“Islamic Algorithms is a great contribution to the topic of Digital Religion …”

Review in The Muslim World‘ by Dr Akif Tahiiev of Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

‘Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms liefert detaillierte Einblicke in die digitalen Räume von AkteurInnen, die sich auf unterschiedliche Weise auf den Islam “

“Gary R. Bunt’s Islamic Algorithms provides detailed insights into the digital spaces of actors who relate to Islam in various ways.*

* Google Translation

Margareta Wetchy, Gary R. Bunts Islamic Algorithms unter der Lupe, Machine Against the Rage

“Overall, Islamic Algorithms: Online Influence in the Muslim Metaverse is crucial to contemporary Islamic studies. The book is highly recommended for researchers, academics, and practitioners interested in the interaction between
technology and religion.” Reza Adeputra Tohis and Zulkifli Mansyur, Religion & Theology, 32 (2025): Issue 1-2 (Jun 2025) [PDF]

” … Bunt’s volume is an important step forward in understanding the importance of digital discourse to contemporary Islamic traditions and Muslim communities.” James Riggan, Reading Religion (American Academy of Religion)

“Islamic Algorithms provides a timely and thoughtful examination of how Islam, algorithms, and digital culture intersect. It is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in digital presence of Islam, and digital culture both in theory and practice.” Mohamed Taher, Middle Eastern Librarians Association

Book cover: Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘

Gary R. Bunt’s chapter ‘Şeyh Google’dan Yapay Zekâ İmama Mı?: Müslüman Dijital Mecralarda İslami Etki ve Otoritenin Dönüşümü‘?‘ (trans. Necmiye Durmuş) is available in ‘Dijital Dünyada Müslüman Olmak: Mecra, Kimlik ve Otorite‘ edited by Mehmet Ali Başak (Eskiyeni). The original version was in

Scharia im Wandel edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024).

Available from:

UAE Data Centres Thu 18 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 29-10-2026AD

Iran’s Hidden Web of Military Agencies Thu 18 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 29-10-2026AD

Satellites above KSA Wed 17 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 28-10-2026AD

Handala Hack Wed 17 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 28-10-2026AD

Dar al-Ifta Haseen platform Mon 15 Jumada Al Oula 1448AH 26-10-2026AD

Scharia im Wandel book cover. Showing figures reading, a stack of books, and the background of a minaret and mosque dome.

My chapter, “From Sheikh Google to ImamAI? Evolving Islamic Influence and Authority in Muslim Digital Worlds,” is published in “Scharia im Wandel. Beiträge zur Transformation islamischer Autorität im Spannungsfeld von Kodifikation, Migration und Digitalisierung,” edited by Mahmud El-Wereny and Alexander-Kenneth Nagel. (Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2024). Studies on Islamic Cultural and Intellectual History, Noorhaidi Hasan et al.

The book is the result of a 2022 conference at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

A Turkish version of the chapter is in preparation for publication in 2026.

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