Audio platforms have been ordered to take down hundreds of hours-worth of audio extolling terrorist or extremist propaganda, the EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol, says.
Irish investigators were involved in the operation coordinated by Europol which also involved police in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Europol says that 1,100 hours of “talks and chants” were uncovered. More than three-quarters of the content has now been removed from online platforms.
It’s the largest ever operation targeting audio propaganda across Europe.
“The operation focused on terrorist audio propaganda used by groups across the ideological spectrum, including jihadist and violent right-wing extremist networks”, Europol says.
The agency warns that it is witnessing a growing presence of terrorist content on audio-sharing platforms.
The suspected terrorist content included “speeches from designated terrorist leaders, songs praising violent acts, and nashids – Islamic chants frequently used in jihadist propaganda.”
The operation was led by Hungarian authorities and Eurpol’s EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU).
“Unlike videos or images, audio propaganda is often more difficult to moderate”, Europol says.
“Identifying extremist messaging requires linguistic expertise and contextual understanding, allowing such content to circulate for long periods without detection. This can create a blind spot online, with terrorist and extremist propaganda remaining easily accessible to individuals vulnerable to radicalisation.”
Music, speeches and chants are used as a “powerful psychological tool to influence audiences”, Europol added.
“Songs are designed to trigger emotional responses, evoke anger or grievance, and glorify sacrifice and martyrdom. They also reinforce group identity through narratives portraying a struggle between “us” and “them”, promoting ideological or religious purity and loyalty to the cause.”
By pooling resources, Europol hopes it can more effectively identify and take down illicit content.
During the operation 17,298 weblinks to audio on 40 online platforms was uncovered.