Jihadist terrorists as early adopters: a critical examination of terrorist adoption of emerging internet technologies

Abstract

The idea that jihadist groups are ‘early adopters’ of emerging internet technologies has shaped counterterrorism policies and public discourse. However, this assumption often relies on anecdotal evidence rather than systematic analysis. This study critically examines whether jihadist actors genuinely adopt digital platforms earlier than the general population or whether their behaviour aligns with broader technological trends. Using a dataset of all individuals arrested in Spain for jihadist-related online activities between 2001 and 2024, this research assesses the adoption timelines of various internet platforms. The findings indicate that contrary to popular belief, jihadist actors generally adopt mainstream technologies once they are already widely used by the public. While some encrypted messaging services, such as Telegram, were embraced relatively early due to their operational security advantages, most platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, were used by these individuals only at the same time asmass adoption. These results highlight a key tension in jihadist digital strategy: the need to balance security with audience reach. Understanding these patterns can refine counterterrorism efforts by focusing on how extremists adapt to digital environments rather than assuming a uniform pattern of early adoption.