Neglects To Mention Company’s Extensive ISIS Problems In The Present
This week, Facebook released its third-quarter earnings report, and while it was not akin to last time’s “biggest ever decline in the history of the American stock market,” it nevertheless marked a slowdown in company growth. Speaking during the quarterly earnings call, CNBC reported that CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined three key areas critical to the future of Facebook: stories, messaging and video. The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) would like to take this opportunity to explain how ISIS has been ahead of the curve, and Mr. Zuckerberg, for quite some time.
- On stories, Mr. Zuckerberg stated, “People want to share in ways that don’t stick around permanently, and I want to make sure that we fully embrace this.” Pro-ISIS posts and even official propaganda can remain on the platform for months or even years. Their content, which includes statements, pictures and videos from a variety of sources are shared amongst their countless supporters who depend on Facebook for their terrorist information. One video, which has been up for two weeks, is a thirty-second clip posted by a pro-ISIS Facebook account that shows fighters desecrating a corpse by amputating an arm. The video was covered with a filter by Facebook due to “violent or graphic content.”
- On messaging, Mr. Zuckerberg stated, “We found that every time we make our services faster and simpler, people communicate more.” Facebook’s messaging system is so fast and simple that ISIS has developed a structured and deliberate strategy of using it to radicalize, recruit, support and terrorize individuals around the world. CEP identified one user who ran multiple ISIS propaganda accounts that was seen recruiting people. In this case, CEP observed him posting a series of messages recruiting people to work with him to help spread ISIS propaganda. hese were not just isolated incidents.
- On video, Mr. Zuckerberg stated, “Video is a critical part of the future. It’s what our community wants, and as long as we can make it social, I think will end up being a large part of our business as well.” Videos are a social event for ISIS as well, as it is often a medium of choice to spread their propaganda. ISIS has even been documented using Facebook Live to discuss terrorist activity. Instances such as the video “Upon the Prophetic Methodology” are prevalent on Facebook. Originally released on July 28, 2014 by ISIS’s al-Furqan Media Foundation, it shows combat, ISIS victory parades and dozens of executions of captured or surrendered Iraqi soldiers.
Before Mr. Zuckerberg spends so much time worrying about the future of Facebook, he should instead consider the vast proliferation of terrorist content on his website right now. To read more about this issue and see the aforementioned examples, as well as other examples of extremist content, please see the background below.
EXTREMIST FACEBOOK CONTENT
1. Video Of Fighters Desecrating A Corpse
- Located on Facebook: October 31, 2018
- Time on Facebook: Two weeks
- Views: 258, 6 likes/reacts and two shares
- URL: Link
- Profile Language: Arabic
- Description: A 30-second video posted by a pro-ISIS Facebook account that shows fighters desecrating a corpse by amputating an arm. The video was only covered with a filter by Facebook due to “violent or graphic content.”
2. Early ISIS Video On Facebook For Over Two Weeks With Over 150 Views
- Located on Facebook: October 31, 2018
- Time on Facebook: Two weeks
- Views: 192 views, six likes/reacts and three shares
- URL: Link
- Profile Language: Arabic
- Description: The ISIS-propaganda video “Upon the Prophetic Methodology,” originally released on July 28, 2014 by ISIS’s al-Furqan Media Foundation. The video shows combat, ISIS victory parades and dozens of executions of captured or surrendered Iraqi soldiers.
3. ISIS Clip Glorifying The Caliphate On Facebook For Five Days With Over 100 Views
- Located on Facebook: October 31, 2018
- Time on Facebook: Five days
- Views: 131 views, 16 likes/reacts and seven shares
- URL: Link
- Profile Language: Indonesian
- Description: A one-minute long clip taken from an unknown longer ISIS video in which an ISIS member speaks with children and merchants, encouraging them to pray. The clip has Indonesian subtitles.
4. ISIS Video On Facebook For One Month With Over 600 Views
- Located on Facebook: October 31, 2018
- Time on Facebook: Approximately one month
- Views: 636, 37 likes/reacts and 25 shares
- URL: Link
- Profile Language: Malay
- Description: The ISIS video “The Abode of Islam” originally released October 1, 2017. The video includes short statements from ISIS fighters engaged in different aspects of fighting.
5. ISIS Propaganda Clip On Facebook For Four Months
- Located on Facebook: October 31, 2018
- Time on Facebook: Four months
- Views: 146, three likes/reacts and one share
- URL: Link
- Profile Language: Arabic
- Description: The first thirty seconds of the ISIS video “The Point of Death,” originally released on July 4, 2018. The video opens with President Trump stating that the U.S. should only be interested in Libya to acquire oil.
BACKGROUND
The Verge: Facebook’s Second Quarter Earnings “Suffered The Biggest Ever Decline In The History Of The American Stock Market.” (Nick Statt, “Facebook’s Growth Continues To Slow Down,” The Verge, 10/30/18)
On A Conference Call, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Stated That Stories, Messaging And Video Would Be A Focus For The Company’s Future. “Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday laid out his vision for the future of Facebook by highlighting three priorities: video, messaging and Stories. The Facebook CEO used his quarterly earnings call to highlight that these three areas are critical to the future of the social media company and to explain the unique challenges each one faces.” (Salvador Rodriguez, “Mark Zuckerberg Lays Out How Everything Is Changing For Facebook,” CNBC, 10/31/18)