Think Again, Turn Away Explained

Abbreviation:TATA
Type:Anti-radicalization
Founder:CSCC
Country:United States
Established:2013
Current Status:Defunct
Disestablished:2017[1]
Motto:Some truths about terrorism[2]

Think Again, Turn Away, or TATA, was an anti-radicalization project on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook led by the U.S. Department of State's Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications to attempt to stop people from Europe and the United States from joining the Islamic State.[3] [4]

History

The project was started in late 2013 by the U.S. Department of state against Jihadist propaganda posted by Al-Qaeda online.[5] [6] It later became a counter tactic against Islamic State Jihadist propaganda in 2014 and 2015,[7] this included the making of mock-up propaganda videos which included violent imagery like war, beheadings, and executions.[8] The first attempt of combating propaganda made by the Islamic State was making a video that showed Denis Cuspert talking about Jihad, which then it later cuts to a mock-up death of Denis Cuspert where other people had to resuscitate him, the video later cuts to the Flag of the United States with the Statue of Liberty.[9] They then released another video entitled "Welcome to the Islamic State' land" which shows scenes of suicide bombings at mosques, crucifixions, which then cuts to text that states "You can learn useful new skills for the Ummah...blowing up mosques, crucifying and executing Muslims, plundering national resources, suicide bombings inside mosques.", which then shows the text: "Travel is inexpensive because you won’t need a return ticket,", then the video shows a body being thrown off a cliff, the video was uploaded to Facebook on the official Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications page.[10] The projects' tactics were considered controversial and extreme.[11] [12]

The project was considered ineffective of attempting to dissuade American citizens and Europeans from joining Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.[13]

References

  1. Web site: Seldin . Jeff . September 12, 2017 . Is US Losing a Key Part of the War on Terror? . 2023-02-28 . . en.
  2. News: Gearan . Anne . September 7, 2014 . The U.S. is attempting to do battle online with the Islamic State . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-02-28 . 0190-8286.
  3. Web site: Katz . Rita . September 16, 2014 . The State Department Is Fumbling on Twitter . 2023-02-27 . . en.
  4. Meleagrou-Hitchens . Alexander . 2017 . The Challenges and Limitations of Online Counter-Narratives in the Fight against ISIS Recruitment in Europe and North America . Georgetown Journal of International Affairs . 18 . 3 . 95–104 . 1526-0054.
  5. News: Cooper . Helene . July 29, 2016 . U.S. Drops Snark in Favor of Emotion to Undercut Extremists . en-US . . 2023-02-27 . 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: Hume . Tim . April 18, 2014 . Why the U.S. government is 'trolling' jihadists on social media . 2023-02-27 . . en.
  7. Web site: Singal . Jesse . December 17, 2015 . How to Save Lives by Countering ISIS Propaganda . 2023-02-27 . . en-us.
  8. News: Miller . Greg . Higham . Scott . May 8, 2015 . In a propaganda war against ISIS, the U.S. tried to play by the enemy’s rules . en-US . . 2023-02-27 . 0190-8286.
  9. Web site: Sanchez . Raf . Here's How The US Is Fighting Terrorists Through Twitter . 2023-02-27 . . en-US.
  10. Web site: Dearden . Lizzie . September 7, 2014 . Islamic State: US Government releases graphic mock propaganda video . 2023-02-28 . . en.
  11. Web site: Rkaina . Sam . September 8, 2014 . Watch US Government troll ISIS in graphic propaganda video . 2023-02-28 . . en.
  12. Web site: September 10, 2014 . US State Department releases ‘Think Again Turn Away’ campaign to discourage foreign recruits from joining IS . news.com.au.
  13. Web site: Abutaleb . Yasmeen . Cooke . Kristina . June 6, 2016 . A U.S. teen’s turn to radicalism, and the safety net that failed . 2023-02-28 . . en.