Dr Julia Ebner’s new book, The Language of Terrorists, tackles one of the most difficult questions in the study of online extremism: when do words become a credible warning of real-world violence?
Drawing on her extensive research into radicalisation and extremist communities, Julia examines the language used by perpetrators of terrorist violence and the patterns that can help distinguish online provocation from genuine intent.
It’s a significant development in Julia’s work. Having spent years investigating extremist networks, conspiracy movements and the ways radical ideas spread online, she is now looking more closely at what language itself can tell us about the potential for violence — and what that could mean for those responsible for assessing and responding to threats.
These are complex questions for governments, security organisations and technology companies, particularly as online spaces continue to evolve. The Language of Terrorists brings rigorous research to that challenge, and adds another important dimension to the conversations Julia brings to audiences around extremism, technology, security and the changing nature of online radicalisation.