Pinterest as a Haven for ISIS Propaganda Despite Regulatory Warnings

On October 17, 2025, Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, issued a warning to Pinterest regarding the presence of terrorist content on its platform. Despite this warning, investigations reveal that pro-ISIS propaganda, particularly from institutional and Ansar Production media outlets, remains prevalent on Pinterest, highlighting the challenges of content moderation and the platform’s unique architectural features that facilitate the spread of extremist material.

Pinterest: A Visual Discovery Engine and its Features

Pinterest describes itself as a “visual discovery engine” with over 600 million monthly active users. The platform centers around sharing and discovering “Pins” – images or short videos – organized into categorized boards. A key feature is the ability for users to create private accounts and boards, concealing content from public search results and obscuring the identity of those sharing it. This privacy-focused design, while intended to enhance user experience, inadvertently provides a space for extremist groups to disseminate propaganda with reduced risk of detection.

The Multiplatform Communication Paradigm and ISIS’s Use of Pinterest

ISIS and its supporters employ a “Multiplatform Communication Paradigm” (MCP), diversifying their online presence across numerous platforms. Pinterest has become an attractive venue for pro-ISIS actors, offering an alternative to mainstream social media platforms where content is more readily removed. Research indicates that Pinterest’s algorithm can inadvertently aid in the discovery of extremist content, connecting users with like-minded individuals and related material in multiple languages. Coimisiún na Meán found that TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram were also previously exposed to extremist content.

Continued Presence of Pro-ISIS Propaganda

More than a year and a half after initial investigations by Meili Criezis highlighted pro-ISIS material on Pinterest, such content persists. Monitoring conducted in December 2025 identified 207 pins containing explicit pro-ISIS propaganda, including bulletins from the AMAQ News Agency, frames from ISIS institutional videos, infographics from An-Naba, and posters from Ansar Production. Coimisiún na Meán determined that WhatsApp Ireland Limited (Channels) and Pinterest services are ‘exposed to terrorist content.’

Breakdown of Pro-ISIS Content Identified

• 4 AMAQ News Agency bulletins
• 21 frames of IS’s institutional videos
• 26 pieces of IS’s institutional propaganda
• 41 An-Naba infographics
• 115 Ansar Production posters

Content is often shared in Arabic, circumventing content moderation policies. Even using generic Arabic terms can lead to the discovery of pro-ISIS material. Pinterest’s recommendation algorithm further exacerbates the problem, suggesting related content to users based on their searches.

Circumventing Censorship and Utilizing Privacy Features

Pro-ISIS actors utilize Pinterest’s privacy features, such as private boards and accounts, to share content while minimizing traceability. Some content is partially censored to avoid detection, obscuring recognizable logos. However, numerous public pro-ISIS profiles have been identified, openly sharing propaganda and organizing it into labeled boards.

Implications and Recommendations

While Pinterest’s Community Guidelines prohibit content supporting terrorist organizations, the platform remains a useful tool for ISIS supporters. To counter this, Pinterest could implement automated tools to detect propaganda based on recurring graphic elements and symbolism. Increased focus on Arabic-language content, including textual descriptions and hashtags, is also crucial. Coimisiún na Meán requires Pinterest and WhatsApp to report on the actions they have taken within three months of the decision.

In a statement, a Pinterest spokesperson stated the platform acts swiftly to remove content violating its Community Guidelines and remains committed to a safe user experience. RTE reported on the warning issued by Coimisiún na Meán.