59 Fall 2024 ttacks and bloody assassinations by neo-Nazis and right-wing extremists, such as the synagogue attacks in Halle, Germany, or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have gone beyond merely highlighting the obvious physical danger posed by these groups. They also emphasize the extent to which internet propaganda and digital networking affect real life. At the beginning of his work, Topor writes that the internet makes radical content easily accessible, but at the same time points out that this toxic content leads to action in the form of hate speech, doxing or terrorism. In contrast to other important studies on antisemitism by everyday internet users (e.g. Schwarz-Friesel 2019), Lev Topor's “Phishing for Nazis” makes an important contribution to the study of online extremism by taking a closer look at the anonymous communication networks of neo-Nazis and white supremacists. He describes in detail the connection of white supremacy, antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and online radicalization. In his analyses, Topor uses a combination of evidencebased methods, combining digital ethnography with the quantitative analysis of online communication. He draws on theories and approaches from sociology, political science, and communication studies, as well as methods used by intelligence services. Central to the study is the method of covert participant observation, which provides an insider's perspective on the functioning of neo-Nazi online communities. In this way, he offers authentic access to groups that are normally hostile and closed to outsiders. In connection with his covert method, he also addresses ethical and data protection concerns, which he explains in a comprehensive manner. Topor details the composition, topography, and functioning of these anonymous darknet networks, including the Tor network, anonymous image boards (e.g. “Chan” boards), and messenger services such as Telegram. He points out that while platform-specific government regulation has led to the restriction of neo-Nazi and extremist content, it has not caused it to disappear from the internet. Instead, the content merely moves to the anonymous, uncontrollable darknet. Topor cites the 2017 deadly car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, which was perpetrated by a white supremacist who drove from Ohio to attend the Unite the Right rally, as a striking event. Google and GoDaddy shut down a neo-Nazi website as a result, but it appeared on the Tor darknet shortly afterwards and was promoted across relevant forums and chats. Theoretical Framework Topor begins with a definition of white supremacy, racism and antisemitism and elaborates on these phenomena, accompanied by a historical derivation and detailed overview of the white supremacist scene in the U.S. and Europe. He also provides a historical overview of Nazi ideology and its resurgence in the digital age. Topor describes the ideology of white supremacy and its connection, or rather logical consequence, to the use and legitimization of violence in a way that is easy to understand. However, a clearer conceptual distinction between antisemitism and racism would have been useful in this chapter, as antisemitism goes beyond a form of discrimination and prejudice. For example, Topor discusses the phenomenon of Holocaust denial by looking at the relevant Telegram channels and illustrates the alarming extent of this explicit form of online antisemitism. His point that racism and antisemitism can also be found on the left-wing side of the political spectrum is a very important one, even if the focus of the study is on neo-Nazi fringe communities. (Of course, antisemitism is present across all other social and political milieus.) The author situates his work within the broader theoretical landscape of extremism research, with particular focus on theories of online radicalization and the role of the internet in promoting extremist ideologies. Topor also draws on concepts from social psychology, in particular social identity theory, to explain the group dynamics observed in these online communities. Data collection and analysis The data collection process involved an intensive study Reviewed by Markus Weiss A Phishing for Nazis: Conspiracies, Anonymous Communications and White Supremacy Networks on the Dark Web By Lev Topor New York: Routledge (2022, 163 pp.)
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