Between the sowing and watering of the terrorist seed: an approach to the influence of terrorist propaganda on the internet

Abstract

The Internet plays an important role in the causes of radicalization to terrorism, since it enables the re-cruitment of fighters for terrorist groups (that is, the “fourth wave” of terrorism), in addition to the indoctrination and instigation of lone wolves (which are the “fifth wave”). wave” of terrorism). Therefore, this article will seek to address the criminological aspects of terrorist activity on the Internet, mainly regarding the use of social networks and terrorist magazines in the indoctrination, instigation, incitement or recruitment/radicalization of people to terrorism. In this con-text, it will analyze the influence of these media under the theories of Social Communication, seeking to understand if they are means of “sowing” or “watering” the terrorist “seed”.