The Media, Terrorism and Responsibility

Terrorism in today’s world is no longer limited to weapons, explosives, or suicide attacks. With the rapid development of technology and the migration of much of human life into digital space, a new form of influence has emerged that can be just as dangerous as traditional terrorism. This phenomenon can be described as “media terrorism”.

In Iraq and particularly in the Kurdistan Region, this transformation becomes clear when comparing today’s media environment with that of previous decades. In the 1980s, when Iraq had only two television channels, broadcasting schedules were structured with a social purpose. Programs were carefully organised: there were specific hours for children, cultural programs, educational segments, daily news bulletins, and entertainment shows that aimed to balance the provision of information with social and cultural norms.

Despite the limitations of that era, those working in the media attempted to serve a cultural and educational mission, offering content suitable for different age groups. Today, however, the situation has dramatically changed. There are dozens of television channels and online news platforms, many of which focus almost exclusively on political news. Much of this content is often unreliable or inappropriate for certain age groups.

The problem is not only the quantity of channels but also the nature of the dominant media narrative. The majority of Kurdish news coverage revolves around government salaries and delays in payments, even though a large portion of the population does not depend on government salaries at all. As a result, fear, tension, and stress have become recurring themes within the Kurdish media environment.

Some media outlets have gradually turned into platforms that generate continuous psychological pressure and public anxiety, rather than serving as channels for knowledge and constructive public discussion. This atmosphere does not only affect public opinion but also impacts economic behaviour and market stability, where exaggerated or misleading news can trigger panic, speculation, or even informal economic manipulation.

Within this environment, the term “electronic flies” (digital troll armies) has become widely used in recent years. At first glance, the phrase may sound like a sarcastic label for annoying online accounts. In reality, however, it describes organised digital networks operating in ways similar to extremist organisations.

These digital armies coordinate thousands of accounts (often fake or controlled) to spread rumours, defame individuals, incite sectarian tensions, and amplify hate speech and racism. If a terrorist in the past carried an explosive belt to spread fear in the streets, today’s digital terrorist carries a keyboard, spreading intellectual poison, verbal incitement, and intimidation designed to silence opposing voices.

Extremist actors have realized that modern conflicts are no longer fought only on battlefields. They are also fought in the arena of public awareness and public opinion. Consequently, significant investments have been made in creating online propaganda networks designed to manipulate information, distort facts, and generate digital noise that confuses societies and weakens trust in institutions.

This situation becomes even more complex in the context of current regional tensions, particularly with the ongoing conflict involving Iran. These tensions risk deepening divisions within Iraq, where some political groups in southern Iraq express support for Iran, while the Kurdistan Region attempts to maintain a careful and strategic neutrality.

However, in the Middle East, neutrality is often interpreted as opposition. In other words, if one is not clearly aligned with a certain side, that neutrality may be perceived as being against it. For the Kurdistan Region, maintaining neutrality in such circumstances is extremely difficult and requires responsible media discourse that reduces tension rather than amplifying fear.

The danger of media terrorism lies in the fact that it infiltrates minds silently. Unlike explosions, it does not produce immediate physical destruction, yet it has the power to fracture societies from within by spreading doubt, hatred, and division.

For this reason, confronting terrorism in the modern era is no longer solely a security responsibility. It has become a media, intellectual, and cultural responsibility as well. Just as states fight armed terrorism to protect lives, they must also confront media terrorism to protect public awareness. Media should not merely deliver news; it carries an ethical and professional responsibility that requires clear standards capable of protecting societies from manipulation and manufactured fear.

Ultimately, enlightened awareness remains the most powerful defence against misinformation campaigns, and the first line of protection for social stability and peace. Because terrorism, regardless of how its tools evolve, always shares the same essence: the attempt to spread fear and weaken societies, whether through weapons or through words.