DIGITAL LIFE

Extremist groups are using AI to boost online propaganda

Researchers and digital security experts warn that extremist organizations have begun to exploit artificial intelligence as a central part of their online strategies. The technology allows them to adapt old speeches, translate ideological materials into various languages, and transform texts into audio and video with just a few clicks.

According to analyses published by The Guardian newspaper, this movement represents a leap in efficiency in extremist propaganda. Previously restricted to linguistic niches or specific platforms, these messages now circulate globally.

One of the most exploited advances is AI translation. Unlike older tools, current models can preserve the tone, emotion, and ideological charge of the original speeches. This allows extremist messages to reach new audiences without seeming like mechanical or artificial translations.

For analysts, this change reduces historical barriers that limited the growth of these groups. The same content can be quickly adapted to different countries, languages, and cultural contexts, keeping the original narrative almost intact.

Voice cloning amplifies emotional impact...In the neo-Nazi far-right, voice cloning has become one of the most popular tools. Software trained with old recordings can recreate the voices of historical leaders and authors, giving "new life" to speeches from the past.

According to the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNet), English versions of historical speeches have already accumulated millions of views on social media. Commercial voice synthesis services, such as ElevenLabs, are used to generate these audios from old files.

Jihadist groups are following a similar path. In encrypted applications, ideological texts are being converted into audios narrated by artificial voices, which makes consumption easier and more emotionally engaging.

From ancient manifestos to audiobooks...Another recurring use of artificial intelligence is the adaptation of historical texts to modern formats. One case cited by researchers involves Siege, an insurgency manual written by James Mason, which gained new circulation after being transformed into an audiobook with the help of AI.

According to the Counter Extremism Project, this repurposing extends the lifespan of extremist propaganda and facilitates consumption by new audiences, especially young people accustomed to audio content.

A growing challenge for governments and platforms...Authorities and experts see this scenario as a warning. Artificial intelligence accelerates a constant race between those trying to contain online extremism and those seeking to exploit new technological loopholes.

Understanding how these tools are being used is essential to developing more effective moderation policies. AI does not create extremist ideologies, but it is making their propaganda faster, cheaper, and much harder to contain — a challenge that is only expected to grow in the coming years.

Digital Look Magazine