Dr Joe Whittaker

Senior Lecturer in Cyber Threats

Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy

+44 (0) 1792 602363

j.j.whittaker@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 305
Third Floor
Keir Hardie Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-6369

ResearchGate

About

Joe is Programme Director of Cyber Threats at Swansea University. His PhD analysed the online behaviours of Islamic State terrorists in the US from the years 2012-2018, conducted as a joint degree with Swansea University and Leiden University. He has also researched how social media platforms’ recommendation systems promote and amplify extreme far-right content, as well as publishing on topics such as counter-narratives and extremist video games.

Areas Of Expertise

Terrorists’ and extremists’ use of the Internet
Filter bubbles and terrorism
Propaganda
Countering violent extremism
Terror finance
Video games and extremism

Publications

Research Highlights

Whittaker, J. (2024). Onlife Radicalisation: Understanding the Online/Offline Nexus. In Europol ECTC 4th conference of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) Advisory Network on terrorism and propaganda, 14-15 March 2023
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66068
https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/onlife-radicalisation-understanding-online/offline-nexus
Whittaker, J., Atamuradova, F., Yilmaz, K., Copeland, S., Sayed, L., & Deedman, J. (2024). Unleashing the Potential of Short-Form Video: Strategic Communication for Countering Extremism in the Digital Age
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65974
https://hedayah.com/resources/short-form-video/
Copeland, S., Sayed, L., Deedman, J., Yilmaz, K., Atamuradova, F., & Whittaker, J. (2024). Unleashing the Potential of Short-Form Video: A Guide for Creators Making Content to Counter Extremism
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65973
Whittaker, J., Thomas, A., & Costello, W. (2024). Predicting Harm Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): The Roles of Mental Health, Ideological Belief and Social Networking
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65641
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cdf458130549000c867a83/140224+SISNET+Incel+Report.pdf
Whittaker, J. (2023). Online Radicalisation: What We Know
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65161
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/RAN-online-radicalisation_en.pdf

All Research

Journal Articles

Yilmaz, K., Sozer, M., Ekici, N., & Whittaker, J. (2024). Resilient non-radicalisers: beating the odds through non-radicalisation despite significant suffering. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 0, 1-29.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17539153.2024.2397148, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67188
Whittaker, J. (2022). The Role of Financial Technologies in US-Based ISIS Terror Plots. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 45, 1-26.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610x.2022.2133345, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61418
Whittaker, J. (2022). Rethinking Online Radicalization. Perspectives on Terrorism, 16(4)
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60885
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/perspectives-on-terrorism/archives/2022#volume-xvi-issue-4
Herath, C. & Whittaker, J. (2021). Online Radicalisation: Moving beyond a Simple Dichotomy. Terrorism and Political Violence, 35(5), 1-22.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2021.1998008, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58457
Whittaker, J., Looney, S., Reed, A., & Votta, F. (2021). Recommender systems and the amplification of extremist content. Internet Policy Review, 10(2)
https://doi.org/10.14763/2021.2.1565, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57054
Whittaker, J. (2021). The online behaviors of Islamic state terrorists in the United States. Criminology & Public Policy, 20(1), 177-203.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12537, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55896
Robinson, N. & Whittaker, J. (2021). Playing for Hate? Extremism, Terrorism, and Videogames. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 1-36.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610x.2020.1866740, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55769
Whittaker, J. & Elsayed, L. (2019). Linkages as a lens: An exploration of strategic communications in P/CVE.. Journal for Deradicalization, 20, 1-46.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55726
https://journals.sfu.ca/jd/index.php/jd/article/view/243
Costello, W., Whittaker, J., & Thomas, A. (n.d.) Predicting Harmful Attitudes and Beliefs Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): How Potent is the Black-Pill?. OSF Preprints
https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/avhnf, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67166

Book Chapters

Whittaker, J. (2023). Online Radicalization During the Covid Pandemic. In Suljić, Denis & Allen, Emma (Ed.), Exploring Trends and Research in Countering and Preventing Extremism & Violent Extremism (pp. 30-41). Hedayah
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65069
https://hedayah.com/resources/exploring-trends-and-research-in-countering-and-preventing-extremism-violent-extremism/
Macdonald, S., Pearson, E., SCRIVENS, R., & Whittaker, J. (2023). Using online data in terrorism research. In Lara Frumkin, John Morrison, Andrew Silke (Ed.), A Research Agenda for Terrorism Studies (pp. 145-158). Edward Elgar Publishing
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789909104.00016, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62753
Whittaker, J. (2020). Online Echo Chambers and Violent Extremism. In Munir Khasru, Riasat Noor, Ho Yean Li (Ed.), The Digital Age, Cyber Space, and Social Media: The Challenges of Security & Radicalization (pp. 129-150). Institute for Policy, Advocacy, and Governance
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55723
Macdonald, S. & Whittaker, J. (2019). Online Radicalization: Contested Terms and Conceptual Clarity. Online Terrorist Propaganda, Recruitment, and Radicalization (pp. 33-46). CRC Press
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa45970
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315170251

Conference Contributions

Whittaker, J. (2024). Onlife Radicalisation: Understanding the Online/Offline Nexus. In Europol ECTC 4th conference of the European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) Advisory Network on terrorism and propaganda, 14-15 March 2023
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66068
https://www.europol.europa.eu/publications-events/publications/onlife-radicalisation-understanding-online/offline-nexus

Other Research Outputs

Whittaker, J., Atamuradova, F., Yilmaz, K., Copeland, S., Sayed, L., & Deedman, J. (2024). Unleashing the Potential of Short-Form Video: Strategic Communication for Countering Extremism in the Digital Age
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65974
https://hedayah.com/resources/short-form-video/
Copeland, S., Sayed, L., Deedman, J., Yilmaz, K., Atamuradova, F., & Whittaker, J. (2024). Unleashing the Potential of Short-Form Video: A Guide for Creators Making Content to Counter Extremism
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65973
Whittaker, J., Thomas, A., & Costello, W. (2024). Predicting Harm Among Incels (Involuntary Celibates): The Roles of Mental Health, Ideological Belief and Social Networking
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65641
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65cdf458130549000c867a83/140224+SISNET+Incel+Report.pdf
Whittaker, J. (2023). Online Radicalisation: What We Know
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65161
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/RAN-online-radicalisation_en.pdf
Pearson, E., Whittaker, J., Baaken, T., Zeiger, S., Atamuradova, F., & Conway, M. (2023). Online Extremism and Terrorism Researchers’ Security, Safety, and Resilience: Findings from the Field
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62839
https://www.voxpol.eu/download/report/Online-Extremism-and-Terrorism-Researchers-Security-Safety-Resilience.pdf
Whittaker, J. (2022). Recommendation Algorithms and Extremist Content: A Review of Empirical Evidence
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61885
Reed, A., Whittaker, J., Votta, F., & Looney, S. (2019). Radical Filter Bubbles: Social Media Personalisation Algorithms and Extremist Content
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54074
https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/special-resources/radical-filter-bubbles-social-media-personalisation-algorithms-and-extremist-content
Whittaker, J. (2019). Building Secondary Source Databases on Violent Extremism: Reflections and Suggestions
https://doi.org/10.37805/rve2019.4, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55725
Ingram, H., Reed, A., & Whittaker, J. (2017). Countering Terrorist Narratives
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48756
https://icct.nl/app/uploads/2017/11/Countering-Terrorist-Narratives-Reed-Whittaker-Haroro-European-Parliament.pdf

Supervision

“Terrorism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Alastair Reed
Combatting Online Extremism: The Algorithmic Amplification of Counter-Speech. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Stuart Macdonald
Countering Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation with Digital Media Literacy Interventions (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Alastair Reed

Taught Modules

ASC103 Criminology, Crime and Society

This module introduces the basic concepts in criminology such as how the study of crime began; the prevalence of crime and how it is measured; explanations of crime causation; and patterns of crime amongst different groups in society.
ASCM59 Online Propaganda and Radicalisation

This module will be centred around the work conducted by the School of Law¿s Cyberterrorism Project on the interface between terrorism and the internet. It will also introduce students to other contemporary approaches to understanding violent extremism online which will give them an opportunity to start exploring their own interests in this area further. The module will focus on four issues in particular: terrorist propaganda on the internet; radicalisation and the internet; counter campaigns and approaches to disrupting internet radicalisation; and approaches to researching and understanding the role of the internet in radicalisation. The module brings together expertise from a wide range of disciplines and geographical regions including Europe, the US, Canada and Australia and explores the various roles played by the Internet in radicalisation; the reasons why terroristic propaganda may or may not influence others to engage in violence; the role of political conflict in online radicalisation; and the future of research into terrorism and the internet. By covering this broad range of topics, the module will provide students with a detailed yet encompassing understanding in the area of extremist use of the internet.
ASCM65 Countering Violent Extremism Online

This module tackles the key societal challenge of countering violent extremism online. The first part of the module introduces students to extremist propaganda, how it is designed, how it works and the role it plays in violent extremist overall strategy. Before exploring the specific threats and challenges that violent extremist propaganda presents in the on-line space, from speed of dissemination to echo-chambers and filter bubbles. The second part addresses the different approaches to countering violent extremism online from disruption, re-direction to counter-narratives. With a particular focus on understanding counter-narrative campaigns, and providing students with a practical introduction to communication strategy and campaign strategy, to be able to design and implement their own counter-narrative campaigns.
ASCM90 MA Crime and Terrorism Dissertation

Students will write a dissertation on a topic related to the MA programme of their own choice. This will be supervised by a nominated supervisor within the School of Law and convened by the Module Coordinator.
CR-305 Crime and the Limits of Free Speech

The right to free speech remains one of our most important liberties, often acting as basis for other rights (such as freedom of religion or freedom of assembly). However, this right has always been limited and, as a result, fissures are created between free speech and competing public goods. These include: attempting to draw the line between hateful and political speech; the ways in which individuals display their religion; and how groups protest against governments. In recent years, these free speech issues have been compounded by the growth of the Internet, exacerbating these problems further. For example, how does one country¿s laws respond to a speech crime committed by an individual in another country on a social media platform in another jurisdiction? Or how does the proliferation of advanced video technology (such as deepfakes) affect our trust that the information we see is true? This module draws from philosophical theory which underpins free speech debates, as well as utilising numerous contemporary case studies to apply this knowledge. Although the primary focus is on the challenges that Britain faces, the module draws on comparisons with other countries (such as the US and mainland Europe) that have fundamentally different ways of regulating speech.
LAMM27 Countering Violent Extremism Online

This module tackles the key societal challenge of countering violent extremism online. The first part of the module introduces students to extremist propaganda, how it is designed, how it works and the role it plays in violent extremist overall strategy. Before exploring the specific threats and challenges that violent extremist propaganda presents in the on-line space, from speed of dissemination to echo-chambers and filter bubbles. The second part addresses the different approaches to countering violent extremism online from disruption, re-direction to counter-narratives. With a particular focus on understanding counter-narrative campaigns, and providing students with a practical introduction to communication strategy and campaign strategy, to be able to design and implement their own counter-narrative campaigns.

Other Roles

Research Fellow, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism

2017 - Present

Dr Joe Whittaker

Telephone number

Email address

Twitter Account

LinkedIn Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Research Highlights

All Research

“Terrorism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” (current)

Combatting Online Extremism: The Algorithmic Amplification of Counter-Speech. (current)

Countering Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation with Digital Media Literacy Interventions (current)

ASC103 Criminology, Crime and Society

ASCM59 Online Propaganda and Radicalisation

ASCM65 Countering Violent Extremism Online

ASCM90 MA Crime and Terrorism Dissertation

CR-305 Crime and the Limits of Free Speech

LAMM27 Countering Violent Extremism Online

Research Fellow, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism