The Use of Cyber Space in Terrorism: What We Know From the American Terrorism Study.

• In Event: Examining Terror and Extremisim Using On and Off-line Data

Abstract

Much has been written about the threat of cyber terrorism, but little research has been conducted to examine the nature of the threat. Indeed, there is very little empirical research on the extent to which extremist individuals/groups have used the internet, and what methods (hacking, malware, viruses, doxing, swatting, etc.) they have employed. According to Michael Bosworth, Special Counsel to the Director of the FBI (2014), the threat is enormous and ongoing. We explore this issue by conducing a mixed methods examination of terrorism cases housed in the American Terrorism Study (1980 - 2015), and by examining other federal cases that involve the various "cyber-terrorism" techniques. Our intent is to identify the means that have been used thus far, whether and how those attacks were thwarted, and what effect, if any, cyber-terrorism has had, and on whom.

Authors

• Frankin Taylor Belote, University of Arkansas, Terrorism Research Center in Fulbright College

• Christopher A. Shields, University of Arkansas