Digital War Takes Shape on Websites Over ISIS

The Islamic State group has demonstrated a skill and sophistication with social media previously unseen in extremist groups. Richard A. Stengel, the under secretary of state for public diplomacy, believes the United States has no choice but to counter their propaganda with a forceful online response.

“We have to be tougher, we have to be harder, particularly in the information space, and we have to hit back,” said Under Secretary Stengel. The State Department division that Under Secretary Stengel heads has tried a range of approaches for engaging with the Middle East since 9/11, from slick, Madison Avenue-style ads to traditional international-visitors and exchange programs. But now, digital operators at the State Department are directly engaging young people — and sometimes jihadists — on websites popular in Arab countries, publishing a stream of anti-Islamic State messages, and one somewhat shocking video, on Facebook or YouTube or Twitter, using the hashtag #Think Again Turn Away.