Islamic State Hijacks GTA V for Recruitment Video

[Karloff]

Islamic State Hijacks GTA V for Recruitment Video


It's not clear whether it's just a video, or a modded game.

ISIS, aka Islamic State, has taken Grand Theft Auto V imagery and used it for its own, in its latest recruitment video. At time of writing it's not entirely clear whether this is meant to be just a video, or an example of a modded game to be used as a training tool by would-be jihadists. The words 'Flames of War' appear at the end of the video, followed by 'Fighting has just begun.'

The video is meant to "raise the morale of the Mujahideen, and the training of children and young teenagers to fight the West, and throw terror into the hearts of opponents of the state," according to the Islamic State's media wing.

The introductory text translates broadly as an appeal to the viewer, showing that ISIS does 'the things you do in games, in real life on the battlefield.' There is, or was, an Islamic State on Rockstar's Social Club, but it doesn't seem to exist any more [http://socialclub.rockstargames.com/crew/islamic_state_isis].

Games, though popular, are by no means the only means by which ISIS uses the internet and social media to organize and recruit.

"To go and fight in Syria is as easy as going on holiday to Disneyland," says former terrorist Shahid Butt [http://news.sky.com/story/1336298/british-jihadis-how-widespread-is-uk-extremism], convicted for his activities during the breakup of Yugoslavia. "Because you've made it simple! They go onto social networks, they go onto Facebook, they go onto Twitter, they link up with people, they find out routes, they find out contacts, they get met at places, they do it all online!"

Source: Forbes [http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/09/20/isis-uses-gta-5-in-new-teen-recruitment-video/]


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[Riotguards]

can't they trace the original poster and throw their ass in prison

assuming they want / are ISIS

 

[Thaluikhain]

can't they trace the original poster and throw their ass in prison

assuming they want / are ISIS

Well, not if they happen to be in ISIS controlled territory. Lots of people going to the Middle East to join up take their stuff with them.

 

[Saltyk]

This entire idea seems stupid. Sorry ISIS but what you're doing is no game. Nor is it fun. It is sadistic, murderous, and evil, though. And no one plays video games for that. No one plays GTA because they want to go out and kill the infidels.

 

[Godzillarich(aka tf2godz)]

let me get this straight, isis wants kids to join in their hate of western world by using things form the western world.

 

[Lono Shrugged]

Hell, using games as a recruitment tool worked for the American Army.

If you are gonna steal, steal from the best.

 

[Barbas]

(...)The introductory text translates broadly as an appeal to the viewer, showing that ISIS does 'the things you do in games, in real life on the battlefield.'(...)

You can also have your arms and legs blown from their sockets, be have your organs pulped by shrapnel and have your skin and clothing fused together and cooked to a crisp by the most intense and agonizing heat you will ever experience in your short, extremely miserable life. It'll be like the hell you wish on other people, only you're able to experience it before you die!

And you will have pissed all your life and potential significance away into the void.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

I can't tell if it's cool that ISIS is using gaming and social media to recruit, or bad that they're trying to trick kids into getting blown up. I guess bad, since this is probably more fuel for anti-net-neutrality arguments. And also kids shouldn't be fighting wars.

 

[FancyNick]

Wow, thats dumb. You think trained terrorists would know the difference between real life and video games. Welp, lets all hunker down for the media shitstorm. Been getting way to many of these as of late.

 

[Grumman]

let me get this straight, isis wants kids to join in there hate of western world by using things form the western world.

Sure, it's like the blatant errors you always see in spam emails: if you're smart enough to see through the facade, you're not their target audience. ISIS isn't advertising for well-balanced individuals who enjoy works of fiction as fiction, they're looking for one-in-a-million nutbars like Elliot Rodger.

 

[laggyteabag]

Could of had better editing and sound quality. 0/10

OT: There was a video by IS a few days ago from one of the prisoners. Whilst I haven't watched the video itself, the news report stated that the prisoner was talking about how IS was misrepresented by the western media, but videos like this, and the beheadings of the journalists, humanitarian workers and soldiers show the contrary. The western media is not misrepresenting IS, it is taking the "content" that they chose to post, and are taking it exactly how it is. It is just sickening that there are people out there like this.

Also, why do I get the feeling that the anti-violent videogame groups are going to take this and run with it? Probably because they are.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

What, is the Islamic State that one Villain from Pinnochio now?

"Hey Kids, come to the State of Mischief! You get to shoot whoever you want, rape whoever you want, and do nearly anything you want, and the only consequence is the loss of your freedom!"

Also, I'm almost 100% Positive that the Islamic State doesn't allow for Brothels or Gambling establishments, so it isn't exactly like GTA...

 

[gigastar]

Ok so ISIS made another recruitment video. Whats special about that?

This one has games in it? Ok, now how does reporting on it, and thus bringing that video to potential tens of thousands more than would have actually watched it, seem like a good idea?

Now i know its not just here, but if youre going to jump on some clickbaiting sensation then please stick to the ones that dont involve spreading a terrorist recruitment video. Seriously, you should know better.

 

[Nergui]

"ISIS recruits fighters with video games"

This headline is the last thing we need in this climate of blaming video games as the cause of all the violence in society.

Captcha - hello, watson?

 

[kuolonen]

let me get this straight, isis wants kids to join in their hate of western world by using things form the western world.

Nothing new under the sun. How many religious groups enjoy and exploit the benefits of scientific research while doing their best to stem some form ,or all, of scientific research? You can't expect logical thinking from religious people, especially the extremist ones.

 

[AstaresPanda]

let me get this straight, isis wants kids to join in their hate of western world by using things form the western world.

JUst what i was thinking, they are just a bunch of sick pricks using the muslim faith to justify what they are doing and to top it off a bunch of Hypocrites also, the brand names these assholes wear in some of their videos and now using GTA 5 lol

 

[TippiestRook]

Ok so ISIS made another recruitment video. Whats special about that?

This one has games in it? Ok, now how does reporting on it, and thus bringing that video to potential tens of thousands more than would have actually watched it, seem like a good idea?

Now i know its not just here, but if youre going to jump on some clickbaiting sensation then please stick to the ones that dont involve spreading a terrorist recruitment video. Seriously, you should know better.

I think the kind of people to see this on the Escapist are smart enough to see this as shitty propaganda than their true life calling.

 

[gigastar]

Ok so ISIS made another recruitment video. Whats special about that?

This one has games in it? Ok, now how does reporting on it, and thus bringing that video to potential tens of thousands more than would have actually watched it, seem like a good idea?

Now i know its not just here, but if youre going to jump on some clickbaiting sensation then please stick to the ones that dont involve spreading a terrorist recruitment video. Seriously, you should know better.

I think the kind of people to see this on the Escapist are smart enough to see this as shitty propaganda than their true life calling.

Id like to think thats true, but with the amount of exposure that things getting just because its got GTA5 in it im willing to bet that ISIS has gotten more converts today than they did throughout last week. And thats the optimistic estimate.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Morals of the Mujahideen - Its ok to kill, behead, crucify anyone that believes something different to you - regardless of age and gender. Especially after seeing pictures of a 6 yr old iraqi christian who was beheaded and the head stuck on a fence. Evil group that i wish would be obliterated by world forces.

Not surprised if this vid is IS. They are recruiting from western countries so wouldnt be surprised if they use GTA to do that. I think anyone who fights for them from a western countries should be considered traitors and locked up for life.

 

[kajinking]

(...)The introductory text translates broadly as an appeal to the viewer, showing that ISIS does 'the things you do in games, in real life on the battlefield.'(...)

You can also have your arms and legs blown from their sockets, be have your organs pulped by shrapnel and have your skin and clothing fused together and cooked to a crisp by the most intense and agonizing heat you will ever experience in your short, extremely miserable life. It'll be like the hell you wish on other people, only you're able to experience it before you die!

And you will have pissed all your life and potential significance away into the void.

Yeah, I know this recruitment video isn't directed towards smart or stable people but anyone with two functioning brain cells should be wary of joining a group promising easy victories and fame like that you get in videogames. Despite what some pundits think most people are well aware videogames are fake as is all the violence in it and the complete and total lack of consequences.

In real life if you get shot it hurts and odds are you're going down after the first one or two rounds, In real life there is no re-spawn timer, and finally in real life those enemy soldiers you're fighting have much MUCH better AI.

Basically a much more honest promise for any army to make it "Join us and get a chance to die a horrible painful death in a foreign land!"

I'd trust any army making that promise a lot more since at least I'd know they're being honest.