Online Radicalisation Research

The core aim of the PROPHETS project is to improve the understanding of online behavioural radicalisation and to identify online factors that lead to behavioural radicalisation. PROPHETS maps out, cross-validates and examines the processes, mechanisms, and the means in and through which online behavioural radicalisation occurs and leads to online criminal attitudes, belief systems, and psychological attributes that incite individuals towards accepting, supporting, and engaging in terrorism. The project identifies a number of grounds regarding the interaction of online radicalisation, cyber criminality, and the internet that have yet to be adequately addressed. Additionally, the project will help prevent terrorist cyber criminality by building resilience in people and wider society. The project will achieve its key objectives through developing a number of tools to enhance LEAs’ proactive online investigatory skills concerning the area of behavioural radicalisation linked to terrorist online criminality.

What is radicalisation? 

Radicalisation definitions for this study have been taken from the European Commission found below. Further definitions for study can be found here. 

Behavioural radicalisation can be seen as 'the process in which an individuals' moral, ethical, logical and emotional societal norms and awareness are compromised, leading to an increased risk of supporting, or directly engaging in, illegal and anti-societal activities.'

The same as above, but achieved online by:
'The processes that slowly isolate and demoralise individuals towards either carrying out or supporting extreme acts'. 
PROPHETS' main concern is the identification of online factors that lead to behavioural radicalisation, which could be used for predication of perpetuating acts of terrorist related cybercrime. 

Consortium:

15 partners fron ten EU member states: 4 universities, 6 law enforcement agencies, 2 non-governmental organisations, 1 governmental organisation, 2 research organisations.