A new ISIS program called News Harvest utilizes artificial intelligence to disseminate extremist propaganda through AI-generated news anchors, posing challenges for counterterrorism efforts and sparking discussions on the religious permissibility of AI-human depictions.
Islamic State Uses AI for Propaganda
In March 2024, a video surfaced following an Islamic State (ISIS) attack on a Russian concert venue, showing an AI-generated news anchor. Produced by ISIS supporters under a new program called News Harvest, the initiative uses artificial intelligence (AI) to rapidly and inexpensively spread extremist propaganda.
The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist activities online, shared the video with the public. The newscasts, styled to resemble Al Jazeera broadcasts, offer weekly updates on ISIS operations. The AI-generated anchors report news from ISIS media outlets like al-Naba and Amaq, furthering the group’s reach.
Rita Katz, co-founder of SITE, emphasized the potent role of AI in propagating ISIS messages. Videos feature AI-created anchors in military gear, with footage of ISIS activities. Some supporters suggest using advanced AI tools like Eleven Labs’ voice cloning software for these productions.
Islamic State’s adeptness with AI underlines a broader concern for counterterrorism efforts, as extremists leverage technology for sophisticated disinformation campaigns. This development continues to fuel discussions within ISIS about the religious permissibility of AI-generated human depictions, leading to modifications in recent broadcasts to blur faces.
Simultaneously, organizations like al-Qaeda are exploring AI, with workshops and guides being shared to instruct on tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This trend illustrates the growing role of AI in modern extremist propaganda, presenting challenges for technology companies and regulatory bodies aiming to curb such content.
