Dr Joe Whittaker

Senior Lecturer in Cyber Threats, Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy

+44 (0) 1792 602363

j.j.whittaker@swansea.ac.uk

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. (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
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
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
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. (2022). Recommendation Algorithms and Extremist Content: A Review of Empirical Evidence
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61885

All Research

Journal Articles

Whittaker, J. (2022). The Role of Financial Technologies in US-Based ISIS Terror Plots. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 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, 0, 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

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
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

Other Research Outputs

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

Untitled (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Alastair Reed
Untitled (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Stuart Macdonald
The Use of Digital Literacy Programmes to Tackle Online Harms (Working Title) (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Alastair Reed

Taught Modules

ASC219 Leadership and Management in Social Justice

Leaders and Managers in Social Justice take on challenging decisions that affect the life chances of individuals as well as the safety of the wider public. These professionals play a critical role in the prevention of crime and the promotion of key principals such as victim support, community safety, equality, diversity and social inclusion. This module provides an understanding of the role of leaders and managers in the arena of social justice. It develops a critical insight into a complex multi-disciplinary landscape and provides students with the opportunity to develop transferable skills for professional practice. The principal focus is on professional development, however skills for effective leadership and management are explored in the context of organisational cultures and processes.
ASC317 Understanding & Countering Terrorism & Violent Extremism

This module examines extremism as a contemporary and contentious issue in criminology. Students will examine contemporary extremism in all its forms from political to religious and critique counter-terrorism efforts globally, with a specific focus on preventative efforts. This module will help students understand the rising numbers of extremist groups in the 21st century, the violent acts associated with its members and the complexities involved in countering violent extremism today.
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.
CR-302 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

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

Other Research Outputs

Supervision

Untitled (current)

Untitled (current)

The Use of Digital Literacy Programmes to Tackle Online Harms (Working Title) (current)

Taught Modules

ASC219 Leadership and Management in Social Justice

ASC317 Understanding & Countering Terrorism & Violent Extremism

ASCM65 Countering Violent Extremism Online

CR-302 Crime and the Limits of Free Speech

LAMM27 Countering Violent Extremism Online

Other Roles

Research Fellow, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism