In the experiment, users who mention in their posts or query the word “sharia” and “mujahideen,” will be shown animated videos with critiques of Jihad.
For example, in one of the videos a virtual character stands with a weapon under the flag of the Islamic State and says, “Do not be confused by what extremists say, that you must reject the new world. You don’t need to pick. Remember, peace up. Extremist thinking out.”
The group of internet giants intends to find out which exact video will be the most effective in combating extremist propaganda. This will be determined by the number of views and by the tone of the comments.
The winning video will be actively promoted on social networks.
“At the end of the day, it is a battle of ideas,” explains Zahed Amanullah, head of the counter-narrative program at Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the US government believes that extremist materials on social networks pushed terrorists in Nice and Orlando to commit mass murders.
