Contextual Truth-Telling to Counter Extremist-Supportive Messaging Online
Contextual Truth-Telling to Counter Extremist-Supportive Messaging Online:
The Wikileaks “Collateral Murder” Case Study
by Larisa Breton and Adam Pearson
Download the Full Article: The Wikileaks “Collateral Murder” Case Study
On April 5th 2010 the website Wikileaks, historically known for publicizing sensitive and sometimes classified documents online, released classified cockpit footage of an American helicopter strike on armed insurgents in New Baghdad, Iraq that took place on July 12th 2007. Wikileaks posted 39 minutes of “research” video along with 17 minutes of “edited” content purported to show American troops killing Iraqi civilians and two Reuters journalists in cold blood. The posting received more than 5,000,000 views; commentary from the public was transnational in scope and condemnatory of perceived American action. This type of online messaging is picked up by, and used as an influence tool, by groups seeking a) to discredit Western nations; b) to drive negative perception of the West; and c) to recruit newcomers for physical, material and emotional support for causes espousing violence and terrorist action.
In response, an individual posing as a British national re-edited and posted a contextualized version of the video intended to rebut and debunk Wikileaks. We provide a case study of that intervention with concomitant exposition and examination of: ways in which American content is de-contextualized and reformatted, event timeline of the counter-Wikileaks intervention, resultant hit traffic, pickup into international media, exploration of Wikileaks’ identity as a provider of public information and its use of media tactics; explanation for paucity of individual interventions, and qualitative analysis on the influence of the lone, informed dissenter in creating, and promulgating, contextual truth online to counter violent extremism.
Download the Full Article: The Wikileaks “Collateral Murder” Case Study
Larisa Breton is a strategic communications engagement and influence specialist with a wealth of US Government, commercial digital, and traditional multimedia experience. From her roots as part of the digital vanguard that revolutionized Internet usage in the early 1990s, Larisa pioneered digital commerce to Fortune 100 companies. Since transitioning to Strategic Communications, Larisa has helped to frame strategic and tactical programs, and program execution, on complex and challenging engagement projects conducted worldwide.
Adam Pearson is a Cyber Investigator with Striker Pierce Investigations, LLC, and has over 12 years experience with the Intelligence Community in both the military and civilian world. He is proficient in multiple languages and is a subject matter expert in Strategic Influence and Information Operations.
