This project seeks to evaluate the redirect methoda method developed by moonshot in collaboration with googles jigsaw for countering engagement with violent extremist content online

This federal Project Grant award from the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, under the Homeland Security, Research, Testing, Evaluation, and Demonstration of Technologies program (CFDA 97.108), provides $1,288,000.00 to Research Triangle Institute (RTI International) over a two-year period ending on February 19, 2026. The project seeks to evaluate the Redirect Method, a technique developed by Moonshot CVE USA Inc. in collaboration with Google's Jigsaw, for countering engagement with online violent extremist content. The funding will support the development, deployment, and evaluation of Moonshot's intervention targeting anti-government and anti-authority violent extremist narratives. RTI International will provide a utilization-focused, developmental evaluation approach to guide the project through four phases: intervention development, pre-intervention evaluation, implementation, and post-intervention evaluation. A subcontract totaling $312,021 will be issued to Moonshot CVE USA Inc. to leverage their expertise in conducting research and analysis related to terrorism, targeted violence, and cybersecurity threats.

Rather than removing content (e.g., deplatforming) or leveraging other content-based interventions (e.g., prebunking), the redirect method seeks to interrupt users search for violent extremist content online by introducing targeted ADS into the search environment that direct individuals to alternative content. Although the redirect method has beenpreviously deployed to interrupt the search for violent far-right and jihadist content, this project will be designed to address anti-government and anti-authority violent extremist (AGAAVE) narratives. RTI international and moonshot will partner for a two-year period in which the development and deployment of moonshots AGAAVE-focused intervention will be guided by rtis utilization-focused, developmental evaluation approach. This approach provides multiple points for RTI to review the development and implementation of the intervention, collect data, and provide ongoing feedback to moonshot. The project will proceed in four phases: (1) intervention development, (2) a pre-intervention evaluation, (3) interventionimplementation, and (4) a post-intervention evaluation. Objectives of this project include understanding how differences in messaging and content impact engagement, assessing the attitudinal effects of redirect content, and identifying best practices for future interventions. Core outcomes from this project will include anagaave redirect method blueprint and evaluation report. This project is supported by the collective expertise of RTI and moonshot. The RTI-led team has the methodological skills and substantive knowledge necessary to conduct a thorough evaluation in addition to prior experience working with the U.S. Department of homeland security (DHS) on homeland security solutions. Moonshot has led multiple redirect method interventions across the globe with governments, nongovernmental organizations, and tech companies.