PUBLICATION: Glossary
Extremism and Telegram
The contemporary information environment has redefined the ecosystem of extremist groups, shifting them significantly towards online engagement.
Unlike offline movements from previous decades, modern extremists are often radicalised via the internet through various forums, alternative tech platforms, and encrypted messaging applications. These digital spaces play a crucial role in overcoming traditional geographical boundaries, enabling effective networking, dissemination of extremist ideas, recruitment of new members, and resource collection for both online and offline activities.
As a consequence of these tightened regulatory policies, Telegram has become a hub for extremism and conspiracy theories, experiencing rapid growth— from 300 million monthly active users in 2019 to 400 million in April 2020. Within this context, this backgrounder aims to provide an overview of key concepts and terms related to extremism on Telegram.
The author of this backgrounder is Katarina Bogićević, an intern at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.
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DATE: 14.05.2025
TOPICS: Challenges Risks and Threats, Extremism, In Focus
TYPE: Glossary
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.55042/QCOP1243
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