| dc.description.abstract | Prolonged riots that violate legal rights and peaceful
limits, turning violent with the potential to lead to anarchical
social unrest, are perceived as threats to national security. In the
digital age, these threats are exacerbated by the impact of online
news and social media. Activists often utilize platforms such as
Facebook, YouTube, and Telegram for riot organization without
relying on traditional hierarchical structures. This situation poses
significant challenges for national security stakeholders,
requiring them to respond swiftly to the rapidly evolving online
landscape.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) proves valuable in
comprehending the role of social media in riots. This paper
presents a case study of the 2022 riots in Sri Lanka, delving into
social media's contribution to propaganda, organization, and
mobilization. To achieve this, temporal data regarding hashtags,
growth in online group membership, call-for-action posts, and
YouTube Live streams were collected for analysis. Furthermore,
an analysis of online news volume related to the riots was
conducted using the Global Database for Events Language and
Tone (GDELT) to gauge the intensity of the riots as depicted in
media coverage.
Drawing from these insights and analyses, an operational
framework is proposed for responding to the use of online news
and social media in the context of riots. This framework
incorporates elements from the OODA loop and other existing
models and frameworks. It underscores the significance of
proactive analysis of online and social media activities associated
with riots and emphasizes the need for swift and effective
responses to emerging threats.
This research delves into the impact of social media on riots,
utilizing the 2022 unrest in Sri Lanka as a case study. The study
adds to the growing body of literature on the utilization of online
news and social media in riots, shedding light on the critical role
of OSINT techniques in comprehending and addressing emerging
threats. | en_US |
