Islamic State has used artificial intelligence for the first time to recruit British jihadists, The Telegraph can disclose.
The terrorist group’s deployment of AI to attract new followers has caused alarm inside UK intelligence agencies.
MI5 and MI6 are monitoring the use of AI as a propaganda weapon amid fears of a resurgence of both Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
In his annual threat update, delivered last month, Sir Ken McCallum, MI5’s director-general, said: “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.”
But as well as using technology to encourage and direct terror attacks in Europe, IS is believed to have launched a fresh recruitment campaign for foreign fighters to join its ranks in Syria.
At its height more than 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 of those who attempted to return were investigated and prosecuted for terrorism offences.
But a fresh recruitment campaign, using cutting-edge technology and social media to spread the message, has fuelled fears that a new generation of British youngsters could be lured into joining up.
Last week, a teenager from south London appeared in court charged with terror offences after he was arrested at Gatwick Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Istanbul in Turkey.
The 18-year-old was allegedly planning to cross the border into Syria and then join up with IS fighters there. He has been charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism and is due to appear at the Old Bailey later this month.
IS activity in Syria has increased in recent months with small pockets of fighters carrying out guerrilla-style attacks against government soldiers and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
At the same time they have been using AI technology in conjunction with popular social media platforms to publicise their activities and reach global audiences.
IS propagandists have been able to instantly translate and disseminate Arabic documents – such as editorials in the terror group’s weekly newspaper – into dozens of other languages.
These are then posted on Facebook and other social media platforms, quickly reaching large audiences before they can be spotted and removed.
Meanwhile, the RAF has continued to support military efforts targeting IS terrorists in the region.
In September a suspected militant was killed in a British missile strike in the north of Syria.
The air strike is the latest carried out by the UK as part of Operation Shader, Britain’s mission targeting IS fighters in Iraq and Syria.
Last year the US announced it was pulling the plug on its mission in Iraq, saying there would be a 12-month winding down period before it came to an end.
However, the UK has kept Operation Shader open, shifting its focus to Syria to prevent them from getting a foothold in the country.
