Информационно-психологическое противодействие экстремизму в киберпространстве

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of spreading extremist ideas through modern means of communication and, fi rst of all, through the information and communication network Internet. The Internet has become an integral part of people’s everyday life, the possibility of active communication in cyberspace, which, in addition to the creative component, has a destructive one, creating a threat of infection with the ideas of extremism, as well as the involvement of criminal groups in extremist activities. On the example of social networks, ways of spreading and infecting with the ideas of extremism are shown. The specifi cs of mediated interaction in the virtual space, as well as the possibilities of creating forms, transferring, evaluating information that take place in social networks, provide certain opportunities for extremist criminals to identify and involve potential victims in criminal activities. The paper also analyzes the psychological characteristics of one of the risk groups for involvement in extremist activities — young people. In addition to the agerelated psychological characteristics of this group, its representatives are also the most active users of social networks, which further increases the vulnerability to extremist information and psychological impact. The paper presents the psychological characteristics of persons convicted of extremist activities. Ways are proposed to counter the spread of extremist ideas in the information space.