Virtually Islamic News – Page 118 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Wed 24 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 8-11-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence

Machine Unlearning

Shubham Agarwal, New Scientist, With privacy concerns rising, can we teach AI chatbots to forget?, 31 Oct 2023, (paywalled/Apple News) “With concerns that AI-powered chatbots could reveal private data,...

Tue 23 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 7-11-2023AD
'Islamophobia', Broadcasting Media, Hamas, Human Rights, Israel, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023, Journalism, Media manipulation, News Media

Social Media and Online Coverage: Israel-Hamas Conflict (Month One)

This blog section represents content generated between 7 October 2023 and 7 November 2023. Return to the main blog pages for subsequent updates. Commentary on social media and other...

Tue 23 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 7-11-2023AD
'Jihad', Academia, Archives, Digital Archives, Research

Research Issues

New and noted: Aaron Zelin, (2023). “Highly nuanced policy is very difficult to apply at scale”: Examining researcher account and content takedowns online. Policy & Internet, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/poi3.374 Abstract follows: “Since 2019, researchers examining,...

Tue 23 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 7-11-2023AD
Academia, Conferences, Turkey Internet

Media, Digital Culture and Religion Congress

Details of the 1st International Media, Digital Culture and Religion Congress, to be hosted by Erciyes University between 26-28 April 2024. I’m looking forward to participating. CFP and other...

Wed 17 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 1-11-2023AD
Arabic, Disinformation, Israel, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023

Israel’s Arabic bots

Research and analysis from EekadFacts in this thread:

Thu 11 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 26-10-2023AD
Andrew Tate, Influencers

Andrew Tate: Polling

Hope Not Hate, Andrew Tate, 26 Oct 2023 “16-17 year old boys were 21% more likely to have consumed content from Andrew Tate (79%) than to say that they...

Wed 10 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 25-10-2023AD
Artificial Intelligence

AI Stereotypes

Victoria Turk, RestOfWorld, How AI reduces the world to stereotypes, 10 October 2023. “Rest of World analyzed 3,000 AI images to see how image generators visualize different countries and...

Mon 8 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 23-10-2023AD
Fatwas, Religious Authority, UAE, UAE Digital

AI and Fatwas

Khaleej TImes, UAE minister proposes fatwa on how AI, robots should be used to serve people, 23 Oct 2023 “In a world that is changing by the minute, there...

Thu 4 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 19-10-2023AD
'Islamic State', Gaza, Instagram, Israel-Gaza Conflict 2023, Meta, Palestine, Research, Telegram

Research on IS Supporters & Hamas Conflict

Meili Criezis, Global Network on Extremism and Terrorism, Pro-Islamic State Supporters’ Responses to the Israel-Hamas Conflict, 19 October 2023. “Although the task of navigating through the fog of mis/dis...

Wed 3 Rabi Al Thani 1445AH 18-10-2023AD
Egypt,, Gaza, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023, Palestine, Streaming Media

Piers Morgan interview: Bassem Youssef

I’m dropping this here, as it picked up substantial social media traffic. I haven’t viewed it yet (it’s in the queue). Disclaimer applies. Descriptor follows: “Piers Morgan Uncensored is...

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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