Extremist Communication, Creativity, and Innovation in the Online Environment

This dissertation examines how, when online extremist communities come under increased pressures, whether internal or external, extremists use innovative methods of communication to evade detection, content removal, deplatforming or other counterterrorism measures. My research shows that content removal and deplatforming help fuel online extremist communication innovation, with extremists using malevolently creative ways to maintain their communication abilities online. For this project, sixteen participants were interviewed, including former extremists, those still involved in online extremist communication, along with individuals in the tech, U.S. government, or law enforcement sectors. The interviews provide firsthand accounts of online extremist communication innovation, the challenges faced by the tech, government, and law enforcement sectors because of these innovations, along with policy and political concerns. Results from this study demonstrate that while content removal and deplatforming work in reducing the reach of extremist messaging and communication, they also increase extremist communication innovation online. Furthermore, the interview data and supporting evidence, show that more creative forms of online extremist communication innovation arise from external pressures rather than internal pressures.