Social Media Networking and Tactical Intelligence Collection in the Middle East

Abstract

Social media platforms are commonly used as a way to gather intelligence information by intelligence organizations in many countries. The data available from social media networks has been instrumental in aiding the organisation of rebellious activities in a number of Middle East countries. This article features an overview of the use of social media platforms in facilitating civil unrest, leading to an in-depth depiction of the use of such platforms both in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. After analyzing the types of data collected by intelligence agencies in the region, a model for filtering social network data through the use of socialbots is suggested. Using artificial intelligence, it is possible to design, create and build socialbots that can scrutinize enemy or terrorist organisations' data output. Further programming would allow these socialbots to interact with a target and would be able to disseminate propaganda for the intelligence agencies.