Islamic State (ISIS) has begun using sophisticated artificial intelligence techniques in a new campaign to recruit British jihadists, prompting serious concern within the UK's intelligence agencies.
AI-Powered Propaganda Machine
The terrorist group's successful deployment of AI marks a significant escalation in its digital strategy. Operatives are reportedly using the technology to quickly translate Arabic documents, such as editorials from the group's weekly newspaper, into dozens of other languages.
These translated materials are then disseminated across popular social media platforms, including Facebook, allowing the propaganda to reach global audiences rapidly before content moderators can identify and remove it, according to a report from The Daily Telegraph.
Intelligence Agencies on High Alert
The development has caused alarm inside MI5 and MI6, which are now closely monitoring the use of AI as a propaganda weapon. This concern is compounded by growing fears of a resurgence of both Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the Middle East and Eastern Africa.
In his annual threat update delivered last month, MI5's director-general, Sir Ken McCallum, stated: "Groups overseas are continuing their attempts to direct terrorism into the UK and Europe. Al-Qaeda and Islamic State are once again becoming more ambitious, taking advantage of instability overseas to gain firmer footholds. They are both personally encouraging and indirectly inciting would-be attackers in the West."
A New Generation of Foreign Fighters
Beyond using technology to encourage attacks in Europe, ISIS is believed to have launched a fresh recruitment campaign for foreign fighters to join its ranks in Syria. This new campaign, leveraging cutting-edge technology and social media, has raised fears that a new generation of British youngsters could be lured into joining.
At its peak over a decade ago, at least 30,000 foreign fighters, including 900 Britons, travelled to the Middle East to fight for the Islamist terror network. More than a quarter were killed, and many who attempted to return were investigated and prosecuted for terrorism offences.
The immediacy of this threat was highlighted last week when an 18-year-old from south London appeared in court charged with terror offences. He was arrested at Gatwick Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. The teenager was allegedly planning to cross the border into Syria to join ISIS fighters and has been charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey later this month.
