Examining the role of the media and social media following terrorist attacks in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

The Crime and Security Research Institute (CSRI) has been commissioned to lead an international research consortium, on behalf of the Five Country Ministerial Countering Violent Extremism Working Group, to examine the evidence base around the role of the media and social media during and after terrorist attacks.

The Working Group was founded by the Governments of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand after the Second World War to discuss the national security threats faced by each of the five nations, along with potential areas of collaboration. The aim of the group is to address challenges such as countering violent extremism, cyber-attacks and international instability, among other issues.

Building upon the institute’s pioneering studies into the social reactions to terrorism, the research will focus on media related issues that arise during and in the aftermath of terrorist and domestic extremism incidents. It will investigate the ways that communications technologies shape the public understandings of, and reactions to, key incidents and examine the effects of misinformation and disinformation.

Findings from the research will provide new insights into how communications strategies can be better managed, making informed recommendations for future policy and practice development.