The RadiGaMe research network (Radicalisation on gaming platforms and messenger services) is an interdisciplinary research and transfer project that systematically investigates radicalisation phenomena on gaming-related communication platforms. Based on this, it develops solutions for law enforcement, early detection and preventive measures.
Even if the majority of gamers have little contact with radicalising content, communication platforms such as Twitch, Steam or D-Live have also become the focus of potentially extremist propaganda and hate speech.
The extremist attacks in Halle and Christchurch, which were broadcasted live in first-person shooter style on gaming and social media platforms, are just the tip of an unexplored iceberg. Extremist actors have recognised the mobilisation potential offered by digital worlds and they know how to exploit this for their own ends. It is striking that the connection between gaming and extremism has rarely been the focus of empirical research and studies. RadiGaMe addresses this research gap. Knowledge that already exists needs to be shared.
The aim is to achieve close cooperation between academia, state and civil society organisations in order to fully explore the subject area and bring together and expand existing knowledge.
The research project consists of a network of criminological, legal, communication science and political science research institutions, law enforcement agencies and practice partners.
The RadiGaMe research network is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the funding programme Civil Security - Threats in the Digital Space, which runs from 2023 to 2026. The network is coordinated by the Centre for Technology and Society at the Technical University of Berlin. Other project partners are the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society (IDZ) Jena, the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), Ludwigs-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, modus/zad - Zentrum für angewandte Deradikalisierungsforschung Berlin, the Berlin State Office of Criminal Investigation and Munich Innovation Labs.
Winkler, Constantin; Lars Wiegold; Linda Schlegel und Judith Jaskowski (2024): Streaming, Chatting, Modding: Eine Kurzexploration extremistischer Aktivitäten auf Gaming- und gaming-nahen Plattformen (German).
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If you have any questions about the RadiGaMe research alliance, please contact the following mail-adress radigame(at)prif.org.
