Virtually Islamic News – Page 77 – Researching Islam, Muslims and the Internet

Tue 19 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 22-10-2024AD
Israel-Gaza Conflict 2024, Meta, Palestine

Meta ‘censorship‘ allegations

The New Arab, Meta Israel policy chief Jordana Cutler allegedly ‘censoring’ pro-Palestine Instagram posts, 22 Oct 2024 “Jordana Cutler, a former member of the Israeli government and advisor to...

Mon 18 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 21-10-2024AD
Israel, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia Internet, Spyware

Yahya Assiri Spyware Allegations

Reuters, UK-based Saudi dissident can sue Riyadh for alleged spyware use, court says, 21 Oct 2024 “He [Yahya Assiri] is suing Saudi Arabia at London’s High Court, saying the...

Mon 18 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 21-10-2024AD
Afghanistan, Afghanistan Internet, Broadcasting Media, Taliban

Taliban media restrictions

AP/Arab News, Taliban-run media stops showing images of living beings in some Afghan provinces, 15 Oct 2024 “Taliban run-media have stopped showing images of living beings in some Afghan...

Sun 17 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 20-10-2024AD
Gender, Turkey

Turkey Femicide Concerns

Elmas Topcu, DW.com, Turkey faces spate of brutal murders of women, 19 Oct 2024. “”Violence against women is not new,” said Esin Izel Uysal, a lawyer for We Will...

Sat 16 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 19-10-2024AD
Research

Malaysia Tech Issues

SCMP, Huawei and Malaysia’s 5G future: unpacking the embrace of Chinese tech, 19 Oct 2024 “The Chinese tech giant has emerged as the odds-on favourite to build Malaysia’s second...

Wed 13 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 16-10-2024AD
Pakistan, Pakistan Internet

Pakistan online ‘blasphemy‘ cases

This is a long-running theme, but has extra momentum with the increased activities of so-called ‘vigilantes‘:

Tue 12 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 15-10-2024AD
Artificial Intelligence, Books, Disinformation

Discussion on Algorithms

I’ve started reading Yuval Noah Harari‘s Nexus, so I was interested in listening to this BBC Radio 4 ‘Start the Week’ programme, which incorporated critical perspectives of the book (among...

Tue 12 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 15-10-2024AD
Anti-Muslim Hate, Anti-Muslim Prejudice, Disinformation, Research

Online Misinformation – Research

This article links to significant research and tracks the online misinformation trail associated with the UK riots in August 2024.

Mon 11 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 14-10-2024AD
Hacking, Iran, Iran internet, Iranian internet

Iranian hackers

Roshan Ashraf Shaikh, tomshardware.com, Chinese and Iranian hackers use ChatGPT and LLM tools to create malware and phishing attacks — OpenAI report has recorded over 20 cyberattacks created with...

Mon 11 Rabi Al Thani 1446AH 14-10-2024AD
TikTok

The (Alleged) TikTok Effect(?)

Bobby Allyn, Sylvia Goodman, Dara Kerr, NPR, TikTok executives know about app’s effect on teens, lawsuit documents allege. 10 Oct 2024 “For the first time, internal TikTok communications have...

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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