Cyber-Herding: Exploiting Islamic Extremists Use of the Internet

by David B. Moon, Capt, USAF

Joint Information Operations Student

Department of Defense Analysis

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2007solic/moon_paper.pdf

Defining Cyber-herding

Cyber-herding is the action by which an individual, group, or organization drives individuals, groups, or

organizations to a desired location within the electronic realm. Why implement cyber-herding versus engaging in an all out war on extremist websites? The answer to that question lies in the realm of intelligence gathering and in the freedom of the internet. (…) Cyber-herding has the potential to covertly neutralize undesirable websites, mine data from controlled websites, map virtual social networks, manipulate extremist messages, and modify the extremists’ story.

(…)

Limits of Cyber-Herding

The major limitation of cyber-herding is language fluency. Every node involved in this process will need to

be multilingual, with a focus on Arabic. Before the process can begin, an investment must be made into

recruiting people fluent in Arabic and training people in the Arabic language. The other limitation is time. Cyberherding is not a quick easy fix. It will take time to develop trust relationships and attack offensive websites. The last limitation is in changing the message. The construction node can make subtle changes to the extremists message by highlighting weakness in Islamic extremists themes, however cyber-herding cannot be used to try to change people’s beliefs about America or the West. Any attempt to go down that path will lead to failure.

Conclusion:

The internet provides Islamic extremists a golden opportunity to bypass normal media outlets, and take their message directly to the people. This allows them to spread their ideas to an ever-growing audience. Utilizing the cyber-herding process, extremists’ information operations can be taken over and their messages and ideas can be modified to make them less appealing to their target audiences. Cyber-herding also increases monitoring and data collection of Islamic extremist information operations. Those willing to make cyber-herding a reality can seize the golden opportunity away from the Islamic extremists and make it their own.