Introduction

The World White Web adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from criminology, history, and computer science to examine the role that technology and imagery play in accelerating far-right radicalisation processes. The data collection period (2019–2022) spans a time marked by significant far-right terrorist attacks, global societal upheavals, and racial justice protests. The data collection period (2019–2022) spans a time marked by significant far-right terrorist attacks, global societal upheavals, and racial justice protests. By providing background information regarding technological advancements, the power of imagery, the rise of far-right terrorism and racialised violence, the relationship between fringe and mainstream ideas, and the far right’s appropriation of historical imagery, this chapter emphasises that white supremacy has deep historical roots that predate recent political and technological developments and thus cannot be combatted through purely technical solutions. This chapter will also outline the definitions that will be used throughout the book, provide an overview of its main contributions, and make clear the stakeholders who could most benefit from the research findings. The book emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary, socio-technical, and multi-stakeholder approaches to truly comprehend and address the contemporary manifestations and threats posed by the global interconnectedness of the far right online.