Virtually Islamic News – Page 32 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Sat 15 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 6-12-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Digital MENA, MENA, Nvidia, Research, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE ‘Factory of Intelligence‘

CNBC, UAE aims to be world’s “factory of intelligence”, says AI Minister, 5 Dec 2025 “The UAE’s Minister of AI Omar Al Olama tells CNBC’s Dan Murphy the country...

Fri 14 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 5-12-2025AD
Hacking, Iran, Iran internet, Research

Iranian Malware

“Iranian malware” under discussion here...

Wed 12 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 3-12-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Disinformation, Research

AI ‘disinformation‘

‘AI disinformation’ under discussion in this video from TRTWorld...

Mon 10 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 1-12-2025AD
robotics

We Are (Not) The Robots

From a recent Iranian AI expo: @kagan.dunlop, The Fake Robot Demonstration at the 2025 Kish Inox Tech Expo In Iran

Thu 6 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 27-11-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Research, UAE, UAE Digital

UAE AI Silicon Valley

It’s going to be fascinating to see what developments emerge from this: Important #UAE #AI #SiliconValley developments reported here by @restofworld.org...

Wed 5 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 26-11-2025AD
Gender, Sport, YouTube

From YouTube to the Ring

From YouTube to the boxing ring – impressive! 'They told me to choose between my hijab and boxing' www.bbc.com/sport/boxing…...

Wed 5 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 26-11-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence, Google

Not my term, but an interesting article. That’s tonight’s listening sorted (via @newlinesmag.bsky.social) – and a chance to include “enshitification” in a post (after a struggle with spellcheck) newlinesmag.com/podcast/why-…...

Tue 4 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 25-11-2025AD
Malaysia, Malaysia Internet

Malaysian Socials Control

"The Cabinet approved the move as part of a broader effort to shield young people from online harm like cyberbullying, scams and sexual exploitation." #Malaysia...

Tue 4 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 25-11-2025AD
Malaysia, Malaysia Internet

Malaysia Social Media Ban

It’ll be interesting to monitor the impact of this: "The Cabinet approved the move as part of a broader effort to shield young people from online harm like cyberbullying,...

Tue 4 Jumada Al Akhira 1447AH 25-11-2025AD
Artificial Intelligence

Hallucinations

Don’t believe everything you read, especially if it is AI-generated… Hallucinations ++ don't over-feed the LLM...

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.

Jumada Al Akhira 1447
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Jm1				Raj »
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29