"Trigger Warning: This Study Contains Extremist Content." Research Strategies for Investigations of Online Extremism and Terrorism

Abstract

Scholars studying online extremism and terrorism face major challenges, including finding safe access to hostile environments where members evade law enforcement. Protective measures, such as research ethics, often overlook the safety of investigators. Investigators, including Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysts, encounter emotional harm, abuse from ideologues, consent issues, and legal challenges in data collection. Despite rising awareness of these challenges, scholars lack guidance on starting and navigating research in these areas. This paper identifies challenges and offers strategies for safely, ethically, and legally researching in this environment.