Spencer Ackerman flags a study from the Quilliam Foundation report about Islamic extremist behavior on the internet, pointing out that they act a lot like other conspiracy theorists:
At the same time, however, online Jihadists are constantly engaged in a struggle to protect themselves and their websites against the infiltration of hostile individuals and ideas. Consequently, on Jihadist sites, moderators and members alike are usually very suspicious of new members posting news or discussing matters to do with the health of Jihadist leaders, strategies of Jihadist groups, or any other sensitive information, including the judicial or theological justifications for Jihadist tactics. Threads containing comments which could be perceived to be negative are swiftly removed and repeating offenders usually have their membership revoked. Similarly forums take a hard line on certain news sources which they might designate as tools of “crusaders' propaganda” or as untrustworthy…
Ackerman writes, "Narrow conspiracy theorists, unable to cope with conflicting information. And yet these are the types who lure us into hysterical overreaction." Well, they don't do it without help.
