Are ISIS claims credible?
And what does responsibility even mean?
The Islamic State relies heavily on social
media for many things...
recruitment, propaganda and claiming an attack as its own.
These claims can come immediately after a shooting
or a bombing and usually within 24 hours.
To get the message out, ISIS typically uses the
encrypted app Telegram ... which anyone can use.
Now, Telegram takes down any channel when it finds out
it's linked to ISIS ...
but ISIS just keeps setting up new channels.
Here’s another important point about the
Islamic State that sets it apart from other terror groups:
it calls for many different types of attacks ...
and claims responsibility for all of them.
First, are the lone perpetrator attacks by individuals
who follow the ISIS model and pledge allegiance to the group
... but don't seem to have any direct contact.
For example, the ISIS online magazine encourages
supporters to use a car or truck to attack
in Western countries.
Second, some attackers appear to be in touch
long distance by phone or text or email with ISIS,
and they receive some level of guidance
but they act without receiving weapons or
any formal training from the group.
And third, there are attacks entirely organized by ISIS.
Perhaps the best-known example is the mass shooting
by multiple gunmen at several locations in Paris in November 2015.
ISIS is equally willing to claim all of these
attacks.
The distinction seems to make no difference to the group.
