KUALA LUMPUR: International terror organisations have been found to be using artificial intelligence to spread their ideology and propaganda in the hopes of attracting new followers, especially among the younger generations.
This new strategy was discovered by the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), which had previously also identified social media and online video games as recent channels used by terrorists to prepare and disseminate radical and extremist content.
According to studies and analyses by SEARCCT, an agency under the Foreign Ministry, terrorist groups are using AI to programme propaganda in various languages tailored to the socio-linguistic conditions of their targets.
SEARCCT director-general Datuk Ganeson Sivagurunathan acknowledged that the challenges of combatting terrorism and extremism were dynamic and evolving, needing to be addressed in line with technological advancements.
"The misuse of new technologies by terrorists poses significant challenges, not just in Malaysia but also to the global community," he told Berita Harian.
In addition to the misuse of the internet and social media for spreading propaganda, radicalisation, and recruiting new members, he said the challenges were further complicated by the existence of increasingly sophisticated new technologies.
"New technologies include AI, online games, cryptocurrency, drones, and 3D printing," he said, emphasising that no particular group was more vulnerable than another, as the influence and threats span all age groups and social layers.
He said terror groups recruit individuals from various backgrounds, including based on education levels and ages, but youth are a primary target due to their high engagement with social media, and can be considered digital natives.
"Youth may be exposed to various online materials disseminated by terror groups using advanced techniques such as relevant and appealing language and imagery," he said.
Ganeson said, even though there have been no cases involving violence and threats from AI in Malaysia so far, preparations were underway to monitor the rapid development of AI use in the country, as there have been instances of misuse of this technology by terror groups abroad.
To counter the spread of terrorist propaganda using AI, he said SEARCCT was developing several action plans, including workshops focusing on promoting public awareness about digital resilience.
"With technological advancements, SEARCCT's approach also involves new technologies. For example, in capacity-building programmes with youth, we are using generative AI applications like ChatGPT.
"Participants use ChatGPT to generate text-based content, create social media content that promotes positive or alternative narratives as an effort to build digital resilience among internet users.
"This approach provides participants with practical experience on the benefits and risks of the technology," he said, adding that another action plan was through technology and innovation programmes aimed at building and enhancing resilience.
Through this programme, he said, generative AI applications are also used as a tool to help participants create counter-narratives against the extremist ideologies of terrorist groups in the digital space.
"SEARCCT is also conducting research into AI, with the primary objective of detecting and preventing its misuse by terrorist groups.
"We hope this research will assist law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and government agencies in creating awareness and competence regarding the evolving threat of AI misuse," he said.
Emphasising the need to enhance digital skills and literacy in the community to ensure sustainable and robust digital resilience, Ganeson said it was necessary as a defence against the threats and risks associated with the technology.
"We continuously strive to improve knowledge and skills in new technologies, especially in understanding the attractions that make technology susceptible to misuse by terrorist groups.
"Knowledge is built not only through capacity-building programmes but also through research into new fields such as online games, the use of AI in preventing violence, misinformation, and internet abuse by terrorist groups," he said.