Distributed swarming and stigmergic effects on ISIS networks: OODA Loop Model / Ahmad Shehabat and Teodor Mitew

Shehabat, Ahmad and Mitew, Teodor (2017) Distributed swarming and stigmergic effects on ISIS networks: OODA Loop Model / Ahmad Shehabat and Teodor Mitew. Journal of Media and Information Warfare (JMIW), 10. pp. 79-109. ISSN 1985-563X

Abstract

The stigmergic swarming of digital media environments with propaganda and personal communication made the self-proclaimed Islamic State (also known as ISIS, IS, ISIL and Daesh) one of the strongest terror groups in the world. This study aims to identify the digital manoeuvre warfare tactics deployed by ISIS to survive the degrading operation initiated by its adversaries. In this paper, we emphasise that the information operations of terror organisations are not limited to a certain application or communication platform. Instead, the emergence of anonymous platforms (e.g., Justpase, Sendvid) and encryption communication applications (e.g., Telegram, WhatsApp) has enabled ISIS’s information operations and helped the organisation to maintain its networking structure. This paper examines the role played by anonymous platforms in ISIS’ operations from an information centric warfare perspective. The theoretical framework is derived from manoeuver warfare based on John Boyd’s OODA loop theory. The data collection involves a digital ethnography approach, concentrated on tracing and observing ISIS’ digital activities across anonymous platforms and encrypted communication channels. The study suggests that the failure of ISIS’ adversaries in operating inside the OODA loop of ISIS led to the organisation’s survival and proliferation of its information operations.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Creators:
Creators
Email / ID Num.
Shehabat, Ahmad
ams591@uowmail.edu.au
Mitew, Teodor
tmitew@uow.edu.au
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Social psychology
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Social psychology > Social influence. Social pressure
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Social control
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Groups and organizations
Divisions: Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam > Faculty of Communication and Media Studies
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Media and Information Warfare (JMIW)
UiTM Journal Collections: UiTM Journal > Journal of Media and Information Warfare (JMIW)
ISSN: 1985-563X
Volume: 10
Page Range: pp. 79-109
Keywords: : Islamic State, digital media environments, network centric warfare, stigmergy, media manoeuvre warfare, OODA loop
Date: 2017
URI: https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/39584
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