Despite the often-decentralised nature of extremists and violent extremists in online spaces, there is clear evidence that they attempt to coordinate platform migration and provide instructional manuals on how fellow sympathisers should maintain operational security measures as they branch out onto other applications. Encountering new platforms naturally comes with a learning curve which translates to the risk of making potential mistakes if a user is unfamiliar with the security protocols and user terms of the platform. To reduce op-sec errors, users share messages containing security tips, create graphics addressing potential pitfalls of various platforms, and post lengthy guidelines on how to safely set up accounts on other apps via instructional PDFs, articles, and videos. Additionally, the wide array of available messaging apps has resulted in extremists simultaneously gravitating towards multiple platforms with varying objectives intended for specific apps. (…) Extreme right and white supremacist supporters do not face the same level of restrictions and deplatforming efforts as pro-IS supporters. That being said, Maura Conway succinctly explains the limitations of such comparisons which can be referenced here. Shifting focus towards cross-platform behavioural patterns, a brief inclusion of how these communities respond to moderation efforts and instruct their own adherents on online safety measures offers some preliminary insights concerning improvisation and adaption by extremists beyond IS. Following the 6 January 2021 Capitol insurrection, the suspension of former President Donald Trump’s Twitter, and the Amazon/Apple/Google removal of Parler, a lesser-known app called MeWe and Telegram experienced a surge in downloads from the Apple Store. In anticipation of new users, extreme Right and white supremacist Telegram spaces circulated op-sec guides with screenshot instructions on how to switch to the most secure settings. They also encouraged users to create accounts with fake numbers, avoid using real profile photos, and exercise caution in chats. In late 2018, I had encountered what appeared to be surprisingly frequent instances of people using selfies as profile photos and having phone numbers displayed on their account while observing these Telegram spaces. Now, however, I rarely see this and although these observations are anecdotal, privacy and security are clearly priorities for these communities.
via spiegel: Remaining and Expanding or Surviving and Adapting? Extremist Platform Migration and Adaptation Strategies