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Steven Stalinsky is an American commentator on the Middle East, terrorism, terrorist use of the Internet, and encryption technologies. He has served as executive director of the pro-Israel propaganda outlet Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) since 1999. Since 2006, his research has focused on detailing and developing strategies against cyber jihad, describing how terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and others use the Internet, social media, and encryption for propaganda, recruiting, and hacking. He was an early advocate of calling on the tech community to take stronger action on removing terrorist content from their platforms and for creating industry standards to combat it.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Research on terrorist use of social media

Stalinsky has published extensive research on the use of social media by Al-Qaeda and ISIS.[8][9] He has been interviewed by media outlets about terrorist use of social media, especially about terrorist use of Telegram, VK, and encryption.[10][11] He was one of the first to write about terrorist use of the encrypted messaging app Telegram and debated the issue with the app's founder via Twitter.[12][13]

Stalinsky's research on Al-Qaeda's online magazine Inspire was cited in a U.S. Department of Justice terrorism case.[14] In 2013 and 2014, several media organizations used Stalinsky's research describing the indoctrination and exploitation of young children by Al-Qaeda and other Jihadist groups.[15][16]

Research for the Middle East Media Research Institute

Stalinsky has authored over 100 (nonacademic) research reports while at the Middle East Media Research Institute, on issues ranging from reform in the Arab world to online activity by Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, as well as their use of encryption technology.[17] Other research reports detailed terrorist use of U.S.-based libraries such as the Internet Archive, Arab and Iranian hacking groups and more. He was one of the first to write about Jihadism's use of social media, including YouTube, Twitter and Telegram, with a series of research reports on specific terrorist activity, such as Hezbullah's presence on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and apps from Google Play and iTunes.[citation needed] He also reported on the thousands of YouTube videos[18] – with over 3 million views at that time – featuring extremist Yemeni-American sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki. Stalinsky led early efforts to persuade YouTube to add a feature to flag terrorist content, and one of his reports documented his 2010 meeting with Google officials on this matter.[19] Another report[20] detailed his years of effort to prompt Twitter to take action about Jihadis' use of their social networking service – efforts which culminated in a 2013 Congressional letter to the FBI urging them to take action.[21]

Stalinsky authored a report for the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) titled, "Will President-Elect Trump Defeat Cyber Jihad?" The report describes how Islamic terrorists use social media and the Internet for recruitment, fundraising, planning and propaganda, and calls on the Trump administration to address the issue. It calls on the Trump administration to bring together technology experts and researchers in a Bletchley Park like setting and urges the government to be forward thinking on the issue.[22]

Chronicling Al-Qaeda leader Adam Gadahn

Stalinsky first wrote about Gadahn on September 13, 2006, when the New York Sun published, "A Jewish Musician's Son Joins Al Qaeda's Ranks," by Stalinsky.[23] The op-ed provides details of the life of Adam Gadahn (born Pearlman), the American who left his home in California to join the ranks of Al-Qaeda. Gadahn was put on the FBI's Most Wanted list in 2004, reportedly received training at terrorist camps in Afghanistan and was sent to Baltimore on a suicide-bombing mission. The op-ed notes Gadahn's appearances in several Al-Qaeda media productions, including his formal introduction in a September 2, 2006 video by then-Al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

After the United States Government announced it had killed Gadahn in a drone attack, Stalinsky wrote "Why Adam Gadahn’s Killing Matters to Al Qaeda," which was published in Homeland Security Today on May 19, 2015.[24] The op-ed discusses the significance of Adam Gadahn's death to Al-Qaeda, and his role as part of the organization's media outreach efforts to the Western world. Stalinsky notes that Gadahn was one of the few people remaining in contact with Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Stalinsky also points out that, as an Al-Qaeda propagandist, Gadahn's story could resonate with susceptible populations in the United States and other Western countries, and expand the organization's effort to reach a broader audience.

A longer version of the article "Why Adam Gadahn's Killing Matters to Al Qaeda" appeared as MEMRI Daily Brief 45 on the website of MEMRI on April 24, 2015.[25] On the one-year anniversary of Gadahn's death, Stalinsky wrote, "Revisiting American Al-Qaeda Spokesman And Leader Adam Gadahn's Influence On The First Anniversary Of His Death."[26] Stalinsky also authored a report published on September 8, 2016, "Al-Qaeda's U.S.-Born Leader Adam Gadahn and 9/11", which includes a very detailed report on Al-Qaeda's American spokesman Adam Gadahn.[27]

Stalinsky's book about Adam Gadahn, AMERICAN TRAITOR: The rise and fall of Al-Qaeda's U.S.-Born Leader Adam Gadahn, provides detailed background on Gadahn's life story, including his American upbringing, his conversion to Islam and subsequent radicalization, his move to Pakistan, the translation and video work he did for Al-Qaeda, and how he became accepted by Al-Qaeda's top echelons - including the architects of the September 11 attacks. Gadahn was the first American since WWII to be indicted for treason by the U.S. Government. In writing the book, Stalinsky had access to research from the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), including videos featuring Gadahn and a lengthy interview Gadahn made for publication after his death.[28]

Research on terrorist use of drones

Stalinsky co-authored a major study for MEMRI on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s and other Jihadi organizations use of drones that has been cited by many media outlets. The Washington Post subsequently interviewed Stalinsky for an article on how ISIS [Islamic State] uses Unmanned aerial vehicle.[29] The website TheStreet.com interviewed Stalinsky for an article about ISIS and drones.[30] The website MeriTalk.com quoted Stalinsky for an article on ISIS and UAVs. A Discover article draws on a report authored by Stalinsky.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ Barrett, Brian. "Orlando Shows the Limits of Facebook's Terror Policing". Wired. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  2. ^ Greenberg, Julia. "Facebook And Twitter Face Tough Choices As ISIS Exploits Social Media to Spread Its Message". Wired. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  3. ^ "Virtual Jihad: Chechnya's Instagram Insurgency". 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  4. ^ "Snowden Leaks Didn't Make Al Qaeda Change Tactics, Says Report - NBC News". NBC News. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  5. ^ "Could policing social media help prevent terrorist attacks?". CBS News. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  6. ^ Bennett, Brian (2010-12-12). "YouTube is letting users decide on terrorism-related videos". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  7. ^ "Why the Islamic State leaves tech companies torn between free speech and security". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  8. ^ "Commentary: Online jihad". Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  9. ^ "Orlando Shows the Limits of Facebook's Terror Policing". Wired. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  10. ^ Kirkos, Bill (17 March 2016). "Minnesota police officers appear on kill list". CNN. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  11. ^ Purnell, Newley; Yuniar, Resty Woro (2016-01-19). "Islamic State Eludes Southeast Asian Authorities With Telegram App". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  12. ^ "'Supporters Of The Islamic State' – Anatomy Of A Private Jihadi Group On The Encrypted 'Telegram' App, Offering Secret Chats And Private Encryption Keys | The Cyber & Jihad Lab". cjlab.memri.org. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  13. ^ "Telegram Blocks Dozens Of ISIS-Related Channels For The First Time | The Cyber & Jihad Lab". cjlab.memri.org. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  14. ^ "AL-AULAQI v. OBAMA et al". Justia Dockets & Filings. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  15. ^ "Syrian Jihadists Target Children for Indoctrination, Training". 23 February 2014. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  16. ^ "Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian faction touts training camp for boys". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  17. ^ "Steven Stalinsky, MEMRI Executive Director". MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  18. ^ "Part V: YouTube – The Internet's Primary and Rapidly Expanding Jihadi Base: One Year Later on YouTube – Anwar Al-Awlaki's Presence Expands, Al-Qaeda Goes Viral, Jihadists Post Thousands of Videos of Killing of U.S. Troops; European Jihadists Also Embrace YouTube | The Cyber & Jihad Lab". cjlab.memri.org. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  19. ^ "MEMRI Tests YouTube's Flagging Feature For Videos Of Yemeni-American Al-Qaeda Leader Anwar Al-Awlaki, One Year After His Death – The Results: 111 Out Of 127 Remain Active | The Cyber & Jihad Lab". cjlab.memri.org. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  20. ^ "MEMRI's Behind-The-Scenes Role In Twitter's Shutdown Of Accounts Belonging To Designated Terrorists: The Case Of Al-Qaeda Affiliate Al-Shabaab And The Westgate Mall Attack". MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  21. ^ "Feds take little action against U.S. Web companies hosting sites linked to terror". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  22. ^ "Will President-Elect Trump Defeat Cyber Jihad?". MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  23. ^ "A Jewish Musician's Son Joins Al Qaeda's Ranks - The New York Sun". www.nysun.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  24. ^ Stalinsky, Steven (May 19, 2015). "Why Adam Gadahn's Killing Matters To Al Qaeda". Homeland Security Today. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  25. ^ "Why Adam Gadahn's Killing Matters To Al-Qaeda". MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  26. ^ "Revisiting American Al-Qaeda Spokesman And Leader Adam Gadahn's Influence On The First Anniversary Of His Death". MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  27. ^ "Al-Qaeda's U.S.-Born Leader Adam Gadahn And 9/11". MEMRI - The Middle East Media Research Institute. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  28. ^ Stalinsky, Steven (2017-09-11). AMERICAN TRAITOR: The rise and fall of Al-Qaeda's U.S.-Born Leader Adam Gadahn. MEMRI Books. ISBN 9780967848020.
  29. ^ "Use of weaponized drones by ISIS spurs terrorism fears". The Washington Post.
  30. ^ TheStreet Staff (2017-02-22). "Drones in the Hands of ISIS Stir Fears". TheStreet. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
  31. ^ "Islamic State Video Shows Weaponized Drones at War - Lovesick Cyborg". Lovesick Cyborg. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
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