Social networks could counter lone-actor terrorism

Subject

Lone-actor terrorist motivations.

Significance

Recent lone-actor terrorist attacks in Orlando, Nice, Munich and elsewhere have made this threat salient for the public and policymakers alike. The number of lone-actor attacks has almost trebled since 1990 -- from a base rate of 5-6 per year, according to recent research. Yet the authorities find these types of attacks difficult to detect and disrupt ahead of time.

Impacts

• Lone-actor attacks are likely to recur in the West while authorities struggle to respond.
• Islamic State group (ISG)-inspired lone-actor attacks may incentivise far-right lone actors to respond violently and vice-versa.
• The rise of encrypted messaging services and the dark net will fuel the debate around policing this problem without curbing free speech.