It is one of the most persecuted and analyzed strategies by intelligence services around the world, either for infiltration or prevention. The way in which terrorist organizations recruit new acolytes have numerous aspects and technology has brought a new one: video games. A new study, Posted in Frontiers in Psychologyreveals how extremist groups take advantage of the popularity of video games to recruit and radicalize influenced users.
The study shows that video game platforms, which allow users to chat and broad Video game players are being deliberately channeled from the main social media platforms to these sitespartly due to the difficulties in moderating them.
The authors, led by William Allchorn and Elisa orofino (experts from the International Institute for Police and Public Protection (IPPPRI) of the Anglia Ruskin University), performed Interviews with moderators of platform content, experts from the technology industry and people involved in the prevention and fight against violent extremism.
What they discovered was that extreme right -wing extremism is the most common ideology in these platforms related to video games. This includes content that It promotes white supremacy, neo -Nazism and anti -Semitism, often accompanied by misogyny, racism, homophobia and conspiracy theoriesincluding references to Qanon (a theory about a “deep state” that consumes Donald Trump).
Islamist extremism groups were also identified, although less frequently, together with extremist material, such as the glorification of school shootings; All content that violates the service conditions of the platforms conventional, but often evades detection.
The study explains that the hypermasculine games, such as first -person shooting games, They have a special attraction for extremists and highlights how the unique nature of online games connects unknown people with a common interest.
After the initial contact, there is a channeling where The interactions are transferred to the less regulated games platformswhich provides an environment where extremists can socialize, share propaganda and recruit subtly.
An interviewee in the study explained how harassment could begin: “That’s where the pairing is created. It is where you can establish a quick connection with people. But that is what quickly moves to adjacent platforms, where there is less supervision. “
A recurring concern among the participants was The danger that younger users fell into extremist influencers networks, that combined live transmission of games with extremist narratives.
The participants stressed that Order forces must better understand how these platforms and their subcultures workand also emphasized the importance of educating parents, teachers and children about the risks of online radicalization.
The Moderators who participated in the study expressed their frustration for the inconsistency of the policies for the application of the law in their platforms and the burden of deciding whether the content or users must be denounced to local order forces.
For example, during the game, the chats are not moderate, even so the moderators point to be overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of the harmful content, including The use of hidden symbols that are often used to avoid prohibited words.
To avoid this, tools are being used In moderation, but these have difficulty interpreting memes or when language is ambiguous or sarcastic. Phrases like “I’m going to kill you” can be common in games, but difficult to interpret for automated systems in context.
“These platforms related to video games -explains Allchorn -offer extremists direct access to a broad, often young and influential audience, and have become a key tool for recruitment of extremists. Social networks platforms have attracted most of the attention of legislators and regulators during the last decade, but Video games have gone unnoticed, becoming digital playing areas at the same time that can exploit extremists. ”
Regarding the platforms, there is no favorite by extremists and that must be added that Many users do not know how to report extremist contentand even when they know, they often feel that their concerns are not taken seriously.
“It is essential to strengthen moderation systems, both artificial and human intelligence, as well as Update platform policies to address harmful content, but technically legal -concludes the study -. Decisive action works and platforms can do more to help stop the spread of extremism. ”