The killing of Americans through anthrax letters isn’t itself a useful end to the terrorists. Instead, the terrorists perceive that the communication of horror — not disease — through the country, along with the polarization of overseas opinion accomplished through viral marketing, will eventually lead to the adoption of their policy goals.

To counter propaganda spread in this way, we should consider using viral marketing in response.

Sophisticated Infrastructure and Experience

Casual Western observers of the frequent Middle Eastern terrorist bombings might not be familiar with the normal procedures for terrorist groups exploiting terrorist acts. The standard protocol works in this order:

1. A specific threat is made, giving a policy desire and a target.
2. The terrorism act is committed, in America for example.
3. A fake or noninvolved terrorist organization temporarily takes credit for the act.
4. Careful assessments are made of the public’s reaction to the act, both in America and in terrorist constituent countries in the Middle East.
5. A grass-roots, viral propaganda campaign is launched to frame the issue behind the terrorism.
6. Once public opinion swings to blame America for the act — even if it was an act overtly against America — the real terrorist organization takes credit for the act. Often the first group taking credit will then withdraw its initial statement.

In this fashion, the terrorist group gets the most propaganda value out of its act. If the public reacts negatively to the act, the real terrorists stand aside. Only once the viral marketing campaign kicks in and reaction swings against the US, do the terrorists take explicit credit.

via Countering Viral Marketing – ClickZ.