Broadband Access, Internet Use, and Local Terrorism

• In Event: OK Computer: Conflict Processes in the Information Age

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of broadband access, the type of local internet sites developed, and the occurrence of terrorism. Using geolocated data from internet service providers on registered domain names in India and Turkey with geolocated data on instances of terrorism in those countries, this paper tests the mobilizing effect of broadband access for terrorists as well as the effect of this access and size of community groups (as measured by community oriented domain names) to reduce the local grievances that might lead people to support, fund, or join a terrorist organization. This studies ability to use local data to test intra-state variation contributes to our understanding of what drives terrorism and what policies within a state could be effective at reducing it.

Authors

• Brian Lai, University of Iowa

• Stephen C. Nemeth, Oklahoma State University

• Bomi Lee, University of Iowa