Volume 29, Issue 5, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.1191
Social Media Intelligence from Turkish National Security Perspective: An Exploration of the Relationship Between ‘Detection Tactics’ and ‘Prevention Strategies’ of PKK Terrorist Attacks
Abstract
Mapping out a route via social media intelligence against PKK terrorist attacks on social media, plays a crucial role at the Turkish National Security within the digital age. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between “detection tactics†and “prevention strategies†of PKK terrorist attacks from the Turkish National Security perspective by using social media intelligence, which includes drone journalism and data journalism. Qualitative research approach has been considered by collecting data through the in-depth interviews with the Turkish National Security authorities. Four important propositions were designed in the study theoretically and empirical results are divided into two fundamental categories by using discourse analysis technique: The first one is called ‘detection tactics’ which consists of identifying the topic of terrorist attacks, forming virtual social media beat job team, using specific keywords and codes, follower tracking, cooperation among relevant authorities, titles for following shares/post types & frequencies. The second one is called ‘prevention strategies’ which includes criminal-based prevention strategy, psychological-based prevention strategy, socio-cultural & economic-based prevention strategy, sharing success stories with public opinion prevention strategy. In conclusion, the study underlines the importance of tactics and strategies from Turkish National Security perspective by using social media intelligence at the digital age.
Keywords
Social Media Intelligence (SOCINT), Drone Journalism, Data Journalism, PKK, Detection Tactics, Prevention Strategies, Turkish National Security.