'We already have a Muslim registry. It’s called Facebook'

qz.com, We already have a Muslim registry. It’s called Facebook, 30 Dec 2016 [opinion piece by Michael J Coren] "Every major US technology company that tracks customers’ behavior (and that is most of them) is already a registry, and not just for Muslims. Data warehoused by Google, Twitter, Facebook, Verizon, AT&T, Visa, ad networks and others are capable of pinpointing minorities, as well as those with dissident views, says the advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)."

Viral video “Hwages”

alarabiya.net, Music clip of Skateboarding niqab-clad women takes Saudi Arabia by storm, 26 Dec 2016 "The song and music clip titled “Hwages” (roughly translated as concerns in English) was uploaded on YouTube on Dec. 23 and has gained more nearly half a million views since then." [4.2m hits 10 Jan 2017]

Police unit removes 250,000 terror items from internet

Sky News, Police unit removes 250,000 terror items from internet, 23 Dec 2016 UK story

Berlin

dw.com, 'Islamic State' claims responsibility for Berlin attack, 20 Dec 2016

 Telegraph, Berlin terror attack: Police hunt for Tunisian man after finding identity document in truck, as Isil claims responsibility

  Fox News, ISIS social media accounts promoted use of trucks as weapons more than a month before Berlin attack

Russian ambassador killing

BBC News, Russian ambassador killing: Photographer who captured the scene, 20 Dec 2016

Telegraph, Turkey claims followers of US-exiled cleric killed Russian ambassador

Cyberspace, Terrorism and International Law

David Fidler, "Cyberspace, Terrorism and International Law" in  Special Issue on Non-State Actors & Cyberspace Conflict Security Law (2016)

Yemen

BBC Radio 4, The Briefing Room, Yemen "Yemen is in crisis. After 20 months of conflict, children are dying of malnutrition. This week the Disasters Emergency Committee launched a major appeal for aid.

"But what are the causes of Yemen's civil war and who is fighting? Is it correct to describe it as a "proxy war" between Saudi Arabia and Iran?

"David Aaronovitch is joined by two experts with intimate knowledge of Yemen."

Excellent programme on Yemen

Salafism in Germany

Independent, Saudi Arabia and Gulf states 'support Islamic extremism in Germany,' intelligence report finds, 12 Dec 2016 "A brief seen by the Süddeutsche Zeitung and broadcasters NDR and WDR raised concern over a reported increase in support for fundamentalist Salafism in Germany, warning that the ideology already has 10,000 followers and is growing."

'Hamas blames Israel for assassination of drone chief'

aljazeera.com, Hamas blames Israel for assassination of drone chief, 18 Dec 2016 "Palestinian group says Zawari was part of its military wing for 10 years and vowed revenge against "the Zionist enemy"."

Why defeating Islamic State means taking on the digital caliphate

newstatesman.com, Why defeating Islamic State means taking on the digital caliphate reviews Liam Byrne's book "Black Flag Down: Counter-Extremism, Defeating Isis and Winning the Battle of Ideas" (Biteback)



I haven't seen the book yet, but here's the cover:

‘Tabayyun’ in the age of social media

Dr Shaikh Mohd Saifuddeen Shaikh Mohd Salleh,‘Tabayyun’ in the age of social media - IKIM Views | The Star Online "Tabayyun requires us to think before we share, and to share only information that is verified and authenticated. If we are unsure, it is best not to share or forward such information."

Lighting the Path: The Story of the Islamic State’s Media Enterprise

Craig Whiteside, warontherocks.com, Lighting the Path: The Story of the Islamic State’s Media Enterprise reviews media issues

'Shari'a Law Meets the Internet'

Dennis MacEoin, gatestoneinstitute.org, Shari'a Law Meets the Internet, 8 Dec 2016

Analysis/opinion which includes a review of some Q&A/fatwa websites.

Aleppo

The terrible situation in Aleppo is playing out on social media, as indicated by the links below:



aljazeera.com, Aleppo situation 'catastrophic' as rebels are cornered



Guardian, Reports of Aleppo civilians shot on the spot by pro-regime forces – UN



 Sky News, 'Complete meltdown of humanity' in Aleppo





BBC News, Battle for Aleppo: The final goodbyes from a city under siege



NBC News, Aleppo Siege Leaves Streets 'Full With Dead Bodies,' Humanitarian Group Says

'A War of Keywords'

Centre on Religion & Geopolitics (CRG) and Digitalis Reputation, A War of Keywords links to report Mubaraz Ahmed & Fred Lloyd George, A War of Keywords [pdf] I have yet to read the report.

#DigitalParenting

Ofcom, Reports Exploring Children’s Media Use #DigitalParenting

The Internet Lost Its Mind After A Muslim Posted On Facebook About Peppa Pig

Aisha Gani, Buzzfeed, The Internet Lost Its Mind After A Muslim Posted On Facebook About Peppa Pig "Later, Alshaik said in a statement posted on Facebook that his comment about the beloved TV show had been misconstrued in reports."

The Crusades: An Arab Perspective

aljazeera.com, The Crusades: An Arab Perspective have yet to see this

ISIL Libya

aljazeera.com, Is this the beginning of the end for ISIL in Libya?

'Man in the Hat' Abrini spills ISIS terror gang's secrets

NBC News, 'Man in the Hat' Abrini spills ISIS terror gang's secrets

New IS Spokesman Takes Aim at West, Turkey and Iran

VOA News, New IS Spokesman Takes Aim at West, Turkey and Iran, 5 Dec 2016 "IS, through it's al-Furqan media division, released an audio recording of Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, naming him as the replacement for Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. Adnani was killed in a U.S. drone strike near al-Bab, Syria August 30."

Here Are 9 Things Trump's National Security Adviser Pick Actually Thinks About Islam

buzzfeed.com, Here Are 9 Things Trump's National Security Adviser Pick Actually Thinks About Islam " Enter the world of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s book, The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies."

Conflicting Fundamentalisms and Shi’ite Political Power

Justin McCauley, Analyst, Gulf State Analytics, indrastra.com, OPINION | Conflicting Fundamentalisms and Shi’ite Political Power

From policing to news, how algorithms are changing our lives

Carl Miller, The National, From policing to news, how algorithms are changing our lives "Something is now happening in society that is throwing algorithms into the spotlight. They have taken on a new significance, even an allure and mystique. Algorithms are simply tools but a web of new technologies are vastly increasing the power that these tools have over our lives."

'After the Islamic State'

Robin Wright, New Yorker, After the Islamic State, 12 Dec 2016 "As the caliphate crumbles, rival movements struggle for the soul of Sunni jihadism."

How Facebook hurt the Syrian Revolution

aljazeera.com, How Facebook hurt the Syrian Revolution "Erica Chenoweth, a professor at the School of International Studies at the University of Denver, has argued that social media is helping dictators, while giving the masses an illusion of empowerment and political worthiness."

Tech is upending the ways we write, speak, and even think

DigitalTrends, Tech is upending the ways we write, speak, and even think

The Islamists : The Compass, Islam, People and Power

BBC World Service, The Compass, The Islamists: The Compass, Islam, People and Power "What should the relationship be between Islam and the state? This is the question which dominates political debate in the Arab world. Many traditional Islamic scholars believe in the separation of religion and politics. For the Muslim Brotherhood though – the Arab world’s foremost social and political movement - the goal is to create an Islamic state."

Isis recruiters targeting refugees in Europe, say counter-terror experts

Guardian, Isis recruiters targeting refugees in Europe, say counter-terror experts opinion

Assad Henchman: Here’s How We Built ISIS

thedailybeast.com, Assad Henchman: Here’s How We Built ISIS "This three-part series documents the Syrian dictator's sinister contributions to this tale of terrorism and horror. First, he tried to ingratiate himself with Western leaders by portraying the national uprising against him as a terrorist-led revolt. When that failed, he released jailed Islamic extremists who’d fought against U.S. troops in Iraq, then staged phony attacks on government facilities, which he blamed on terrorists. Far from fighting ISIS, Assad looked the other way when it set up a state-within-a-state with its capital in Raqqa, and left it to the U.S. and others to counter the Islamic extremists."

Meet Gaza's female geeks

aljazeera.com, Meet Gaza's female geeks, 30 Nov 2016 "The Gaza Sky Geeks mentorship programme has been encouraging more girls and young women to learn coding."

Arrested German spy was gay porn actor, source says

CNN, Arrested German spy was gay porn actor, source says "He had worked for the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution since April, it said. He was arrested November 16 over allegations of sharing protected materials and making Islamist statements online."

Top NU cleric shows how to deal with online insults

thejakartapost.com, Top NU cleric shows how to deal with online insults "At a time when internet comments can send people to jail or ignite a rowdy protest on the street for offending the powers-that-be or the majority, a respected and influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) cleric’s decision to forgive the man who insulted him on Twitter has been met with praise."

Gambian election

Reuters, Gambia's Jammeh dealt shock election loss after 22-year rule "Gambians had voted on Thursday amid a total blackout of the internet and all international calls, and with land borders sealed. European Union observers were barred and only a small team of African Union observers came."

Islamic State tells supporters to quit messaging apps for fear of U.S. bombs

reuters.com, Islamic State tells supporters to quit messaging apps for fear of U.S. bombs, 1 Dec 2016 " Islamic state has told its members to stop using internet-based communication apps like WhatsApp and Telegram on smartphones, suspecting they are being used by the U.S.-led coalition to track and kill its commanders."

DJ Khaled: Snapchat superstar

BBC News, DJ Khaled: Snapchat superstar

Pakistan Internet censorship

Open Society, Internet censorship in Pakistan is reaching new heights, threatening the rights to privacy and free speech.

'Selfie Jihad'

Jason Burke, The Age of Selfie Jihad: How Evolving Media Technology is Changing Terrorism PDF of the CTCWP Journal 'Sentinel' (scroll down for article on page 16 - other content looks interesting too!)