514 Copyright © 2019, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Chapter 25 DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-7912-0.ch025 ABSTRACT Social media analytics are increasingly incorporated into security practices due to the rise in online criminal and extremist activities. Social media research, however, has not become established in either intelligence practice or academic-based approach. This chapter aims to fll the gap by discussing col- lection methods and analytical tools for the study of social media data for intelligence and countering violent extremism: social network analysis, sentiment analysis, multilingual analysis, geo-coding, auto- mated entity extraction, semantic search, and multimedia analysis. While technological capabilities of social media analytics are improving rapidly, it needs to be complemented with nuanced perspectives from the social sciences. Understanding of the epistemology of social media and dynamics between the online-ofine interaction as well as data access will put practitioners in a better position to reap the benefts of the social media. Attention should be given to train practitioners in relevant technological skills while also incorporating social science knowledge. INTRODUCTION Traditional approaches to tackle violent extremism face limitations. One key area in which more effective countering violent extremism initiatives is needed is in the cyberspace. Online activities are increasingly impacting real world events as movements are organised, and communications conducted via the cyber- space. The cyberspace therefore makes up a crucial aspect of national security investigation. By 1999 most jihadist organisations had established an online presence, although the impact of radical websites and social media on radicalising individuals are debatable (Bartlett & Miller, 2013). Recent events had shown that terrorist movements around the world are increasingly aided by social media. For instance, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has proved to be extremely adept at utilising social media to Social Media Analytics for Intelligence and Countering Violent Extremism Jennifer Yang Hui Nanyang Technological University, Singapore