Safe Havens for Hate: The Challenge of Moderating Online Extremism

“Tamar Mitts illuminates the intricate cat-and-mouse game that defines online safety today. Extremist groups, like other skilled actors exploiting the vulnerabilities of our online information ecosystem, skillfully navigate the shortcomings of content moderation systems and exploit gaps across various platforms. In this insightful book, Mitts highlights critical vulnerabilities in our current approaches, making it an essential read for those in the tech industry and regulatory spaces.”—Camille François, Columbia University

“Tamar Mitts shows how online extremists strategically exploit differences in platform policies to advance their violent agendas. With a fascinating theory and compelling evidence, this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about combating violence and hate online.”—Margaret Roberts, University of California, San Diego

“For too long, the conversation on how extremists leverage online spaces has been rich in anecdote and poor in data. Mitts’s pathbreaking book remedies this sad state of affairs. Weaving a rich tapestry of cross-platform evidence from multiple studies, Mitts show us how extremists adapt to countermeasures and why they are so hard to stop. A must-read if you want to understand the information environment.”—Jacob N. Shapiro, author of The Terrorist’s Dilemma

“Using rich empirical evidence from multiple sources, Safe Havens for Hate reveals the strategies violent extremist groups use to exploit the internet even as governments try to thwart them. This is a must-read for anyone trying to figure out the most effective and long-lasting responses to harmful content online.”—Barbara F. Walter, author of How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them