Moonshot (company)

Moonshot is a tech startup founded in 2015.[1] Originally established to understand and counter violent extremism,[2] Moonshot works on a range of activities such as conspiracy theories,[3] gender based violence[4] and human trafficking.[5] Based in London, the company maintains offices in Canada[6] and Ireland and works in countries such as Libya,[7] New Zealand[8] and Bangladesh.[9]

Moonshot
TypeStartup
Founded2015 (2015)
FoundersVidhya Ramalingam, Ross Frenett
Websitemoonshotteam.com

Activities

Moonshot builds technology to analyse audiences consuming extremist content,[10][11][12] conspiracy theories[5][13] and disinformation.[14]

In addition to data analysis, Moonshot engages in campaigns to direct users attempting to access extremist material to alternative sources. Moonshot developed this method, known as the Redirect Method, in partnership with Jigsaw in 2016.[15][16] Initially piloted against ISIS, this methodology has since been deployed against white supremacists [17] and disinformation.[18][5]

Funding

Moonshot receives funding from technology companies such as Google [2] and Facebook.[19] Moonshot also engages in paid work on behalf of governments such as the UK,[7] Canada[6] and Japan.[9]

The company re-invests its profits back into research and development.[20]

References
  1. "A tech startup countering violent extremism: meet Moonshot CVE's founder, Vidhya Ramalingam". The London Globalist. 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  2. "If you Google 'how to join ISIS,' this startup will try to change your mind". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  3. "YouTube Executives Ignored Warnings, Letting Toxic Videos Run Rampant". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  4. "Searches related to domestic violence spiked during both World Cup semi-finals". www.newstatesman.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  5. Quinn, Ben (2019-07-21). "Anti-extremism software to be used to tackle vaccine disinformation". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  6. "Ottawa launches $1.5-million project that will use online ads to try to prevent radicalization". Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  7. "Moonshot CVE leads British cyber psy ops against Islamic State". Intelligence Online. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  8. Noted. "Counterterrorism experts on why we must engage with online extremists". www.noted.co.nz. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  9. Hurst, Daniel. "Japan Helps Explore the Gender Dynamics of Violent Extremism". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  10. "A View from the CT Foxhole: Vidhya Ramalingam, Co-Founder, Moonshot CVE". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  11. Star (TNS), Judy L. Thomas The Kansas City. "White supremacist web searches grow in pandemic, but groups try to counter the message". Herald-Mail Media. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  12. Gallagher, Conor. "Dissident republicans operate 'broad, unsophisticated online networks'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  13. "Un rapport constate un déferlement de racisme anti-chinois sur les réseaux sociaux". Conspiracy Watch | L'Observatoire du conspirationnisme (in French). 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  14. "Tackling Misinformation, Online and Off". Global Health NOW. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  15. Greenberg, Andy (2016-09-07). "Google's Clever Plan to Stop Aspiring ISIS Recruits". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  16. D'Onfro, Jillian. "The subtle way Google plans to use its greatest skill to combat ISIS". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  17. MacFarquhar, Neil (2019-12-30). "White Extremism Faces a Subversive Foe Online: Google Ads". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  18. "Software Used To Stop ISIS And KKK To Be Used Against Anti-Vaxxers". www.unilad.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  19. "London-based high-tech company tackling online extremism". Arab News. 2019-10-13. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  20. "Moonshot CVE: The company using adverts to counter extremism". The National. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
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