The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by
extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit fol
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Extremist Content Online: ISIS Releases A New Video Titled “The Epic Battles
of Attrition 3” And Neo-Nazi Telegram Channel Removed
(New York, N.Y) - The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the
methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms
to recruit followers and incite violence. Last week, 10 or more neo-Nazi and
white supremacist accelerationist Telegram channels were either deleted or
removed from the platform. In addition, ISIS released a new video, “The Epic
Battles of Attrition 3,” from the group’s self-proclaimed “Barakah province” in
western Syria. CEP researchers also located the release of the fifth issue of
the pro-ISIS web magazine, “Voice of Hind,” meant to appeal to Muslims in the
Indian subcontinent and beyond, and the administrator of a pro-ISIS RocketChat
chatroom urged followers to adhere to a code of online etiquette and
operational security. Meanwhile, a longstanding and notorious pro-ISIS website
changed cryptocurrency donation requests from Bitcoin to the Monero
cryptocurrency, and users on the main 8chan successor website advocated for
acts of white supremacist violence in response to a perceived decline of white
institutional power in the U.S. Finally, CEP researchers located two copies of
James Mason’sSiege
<[link removed]>, and a
copy of an Order of Nine Angles (O9A) affiliated text on the self-publishing,
print-on-demand website Lulu.
Accelerationist Neo-Nazi Telegram Channels Removed
On June 24, approximately 10 neo-Nazi and white supremacist Telegram channels
were either deleted or removed from the platform. It is unclear how many
channels were removed, why they were removed, or whether Telegram worked with a
law enforcement agency to do so. It is also unclear why these channels were
removed in June 2020, as opposed to any other point in time. In February 2020,
four white supremacist channels wereremoved
<[link removed]>
, however, all were either reinstated or their administrators were able to
create backup channels.
Melzer is accused of revealing sensitive information to followers of O9A and
plotting an attack on his fellow soldiers while deployed overseas. TheNew York
Times reported
<[link removed]>
that Melzer communicated with followers of O9A through Telegram.
One of the channels that were removed had over 5,900 members and was regarded
as one of the most notorious neo-Nazi propaganda outlets on Telegram. The
channel routinely called for acts of violence and terrorism against the U.S.
government, Jews, people of color, the LGBT community, activists, and others.
The channel also frequently posted material praising groups such as the
Atomwaffen Division
<[link removed]> and The Base
<[link removed]>. On June 22, the channel
posted an O9A image. O9A is a left-hand path Satanic cult that endorses
violence and has ties to neo-Nazi groups and movements.
ISIS Video Released On Multiple Websites
On June 24, ISIS released a new video titled “The Epic Battles of Attrition 3”
from the group’s self-proclaimed ‘Barakah province’ in Syria. The video
contains previously released footage of ISIS hit and run attacks as well as
extensive footage of ISIS executing men identified as Kurdish fighters and
those accused of helping them. The video concludes with a tally of casualties
and damage that ISIS claimed to have inflicted on its province between August
2019 and May 2020.
The video was directly posted on Telegram, with links spread on Hoop and
RocketChat. The video was uploaded to at least 17 websites: File.Fm, Ok.Ru,
PixelDrain, Top4top, Mediafire, the Internet Archive, Mega.Nz, Tune.Pk,
Dropbox, YouTube, DosyaUpload, FileSend.Jp, Mail.Ru, Muvi.com, Cincopa.Com,
Bcove.Video, and the Microsoft One Drive. Over 24 hours later, the video was
still available on eight websites: Ok.Ru, MediaFire, the Internet Archive,
DosyaUpload, FileSend.Jp, Mail.Ru, Cincopa.Com, and Bcove.video.
“The Epic Battles of Attrition 3” on the Internet Archive, June 25, 2020.
Pro-ISIS Magazine Voice Of Hind #5 Released
The fifth issue of the pro-ISIS web-magazine “Voice of Hind” was released on
June 22 on various websites. The magazine is meant to appeal to Muslims in the
Indian subcontinent and beyond. The fifth issue contained an article advocating
for violence against non-Muslims, as well as a pep talk urging readers to
engage in ISIS media work and defend ISIS from what are described as false
accusations. An additional article claimed that ISIS is the only legitimate
organization fighting against the West and Western-backed governments and
criticized al Qaeda and theTaliban
<[link removed]> for abandoning what is
described as the correct path. The magazine also contained a recent translated
speech from ISIS’s official spokespersonAbu Hamza al-Qurashi
<[link removed]>.
The web magazine was released on at least eight websites, with links spread on
RocketChat and Hoop: the Internet Archive, Mediafire, Mega.Nz, Tlgur.Com,
Top4top, a private Nextcloud storage site, Filesend.Jp, and PasteThis.To. Three
days later, the magazine was still available on seven websites: the Internet
Archive, Mediafire, Tlgur.Com, Top4top, a private Nextcloud storage site,
Filesend.Jp, and PasteThis.To.
Pro-ISIS RocketChat Chatroom Urges Members To Follow Online Etiquette
On June 24, the administrator of a pro-ISIS RocketChat chatroom urged
followers to adhere to a code of online etiquette and operational security. The
admin advised users to defend ISIS’s reputation, spread propaganda, including
news reports, videos, and statements, and dispute anti-ISIS rumors. The admin
warned chatroom participants not to speak up for other users, ask for personal
information, spread lies, or speak about traveling to ISIS-controlled
territories and cautioned users not to trust any other user online, especially
anyone who claims to speak for ISIS or claiming to be a fighter, or expressing
a desire to commit an attack. The admin’s suggestions were similar to those
given in the ISIS October 2018 propaganda video “Inside the Caliphate 8,” which
directly addressed conduct among online ISIS supporters.
Pro-ISIS Website Asks For Monero Cryptocurrency Donations
On June 21, a longstanding and notorious pro-ISIS website changed
cryptocurrency donation requests from Bitcoin to the Monero cryptocurrency. The
site stated that it was switching to Monero because it offers more privacy and
safety features than Bitcoin. The website also provided instructions for
sending money via Monero. Monero claims to be an untraceable cryptocurrency,
using untraceable blockchains. Monero preserves both the anonymity of the
sender and the receiver.
The website, which has previously been available on both the surface and dark
web, serves as an ISIS propaganda depository and contains videos, official
statements, photo sets, and news propaganda. The site is also a place where
pro-ISIS users exchange comments and links.
Users On Main 8Chan Successor Website Advocate For White Supremacist Violence
On June 20 users on the main 8chan successor website advocated for acts of
white supremacist violence in response to protests and the perceived decline of
white institutional power in the U.S. The user stated that non-violent acts
such as protests and strikes are ineffective and that whites would be portrayed
as aggressors no-matter-what, making violence both advantageous and necessary.
Of the 24 responses to the post, 16 were positive, three were neutral, and five
were negative. Positive responses included users agreeing with the use of
violence or the tone of the original poster. Neutral posts included users who
did not argue against violence, and negative posts were composed of users who
stated that violence should not be used.
8chan’s politically incorrect board was notorious for advocating for white
supremacist violence. Three mass shooters,Brenton Tarrant
<[link removed]>, John Earnest, and
Patrick Crusius <[link removed]>,
who all chose their targets based on race, religion, or ethnicity, posted
manifestos on the site before their crimes. Cloudflareceased
<[link removed]>
providing services to 8chan in August 2019. The 8chan successor website that
the post was located on uses Eranet as its registrar and Vanwanet as its name
server.
Notorious Neo-Nazi Book Siege And Order Of Nine Angles Text On Lulu Publishing
Website
On June 25, CEP researchers located two copies of James Mason’s
<[link removed]> Siege
<[link removed]>, and a
copy of an O9A affiliated text on the self-publishing, print-on-demand website
Lulu. Lulu haspreviously
<[link removed]>
removed copies of Siege after the content was reported, in April 2019, and
very recently in May/June 2020. Both of the newly located Siege entries were
added to Lulu on June 20, 2020. Copies of Siege were removed from Lulu’s
website on June 1, 2020 after CEP researchers reported them for violating the
website’sContent Policy <[link removed]>. Lulu
specifically prohibits material that encourages harm, threats, harassment,
intimidation or discrimination against people “based solely on race, ethnicity,
national origin, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, (or) religious
affiliation.” Mason has substantial ties to theAtomwaffen Division
<[link removed]>, and his work
is posted on awebsite
<[link removed]>
that features the writing of several of the group’s members.
CEP researchers also located an Order of Nine Angles (O9A) text, which
advocates for neo-Nazism, sexual violence, and mass lone-actor violence in
order to inspire copycats. The O9A text was added to Lulu on June 21, 2020.
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