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Research Finds Over 550 Pro-Hamas Songs on SoundCloud
A Foundation for Defense of Democracies study identified more than 550 pro-Hamas tracks using coded titles on the audio platform. The report links online extremist content to several past U.S. attacks and calls for stronger moderation.
May 26, 1:12 PM·1m read1 source
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A research associate at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies documented more than 550 unique pro-Hamas songs on SoundCloud that use altered spellings to bypass automated filters. The study noted that replacing the letter “H” with the numeral “7” is one common tactic.
SoundCloud has removed Islamic State and al-Qaeda material in the past, yet the same level of detection has not been applied to Hamas-linked content, the report stated.
The Trump administration’s counterterrorism strategy directs federal agencies to identify and neutralize terrorist media platforms before plots occur. The report recommends that agencies coordinate with streaming services to flag and delete material that glorifies attacks on civilians.
Since 2006, 118 people have been killed and more than 760 injured in the United States by individuals inspired by Islamist ideology, according to the study. The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, and the 2025 New Orleans New Year’s attack were each carried out by perpetrators who had consumed or shared extremist audio online.
The New Orleans attacker had uploaded songs and audio clips to SoundCloud that promoted his views, the report said.
