Videos produced with artificial intelligence spread radical propaganda

2024-11-09 17:43:14, Kosova & Bota CNA

In a year when more than 60 general elections are held around the world, concerns have been raised that individuals or entities using fake images and records could contribute to further fueling the tide of disinformation. VOA correspondent Rio Tuasikal reports on some potentially dangerous videos recently produced through the use of artificial intelligence.

Now dead members of the terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah, an offshoot of al-Qaeda, appear to speak, thanks to artificial intelligence.

"Hundreds of people die from the bombs I made," says the video published on the TikTok network by Azahari Husin, a Malaysian bomb maker. He masterminded several attacks in Indonesia, including the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali that killed more than 200 people.

Since it was released in 2023, the video featuring fake footage of him bragging about his activity has received over 120,000 likes.

Another fake material shows Noordin Mohammad Topi, who carried out the suicide attack on two hotels in Jakarta in 2009. This video has received 90,000 likes.

Nuurrianti Jalli, disinformation researcher, says these videos are used as recruiting tools.

"So they use these extremists that many of us know are already dead, but many probably aren't. This can create a kind of psychological impact on the audience. They want to know more about the event and explore what exactly happened, or they want to feel sympathy for the extremists," says Mrs. Jalli.

Using social media to spread extremist propaganda is nothing new. During its expansion into Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State group used YouTube and messaging apps to recruit and spread its message.

To combat the spread of disinformation and radicalizing propaganda, Indonesia's Ministry of Information passed the Electronic Transactions Law in 2008, which criminalized disinformation.

The Indonesian government says it has taken down more than 5,731 posts it said contained elements of "terrorism and radicalism" between June 2023 and March 2024.

But laws like Indonesia's could have ramifications for freedom of expression, says Zachery Lampell, legal counsel at the nonprofit International Law Center.

"Several special rapporteurs from the UN and other regional bodies have stated very clearly that an anti-fake news law that prohibits the spread of false information does not comply with international human rights obligations. It violates freedom of expression," he says.

Mr. Lampell says authorities should restrict technology, not speech. He says that a California law on the use of automated applications (bots) that can act with human features - is a good model.

“This prevents people and organizations from using these applications for malicious purposes. So if you're trying to curb the spread of misinformation, you don't want automated apps to be able to spread that message widely," says Mr. Lampell.

But even with new and restrictive laws, experts like Mr. Lampell say, it will be increasingly difficult to stop the flow of bad information coming from bad actors.