The Duality Impact of Artificial Intelligence against Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism: What Law Got to do with it?

Abstract

In the past decade, information technology and the Internet have helped fuel radicalisation and violent extremism (VE), which have transcended from the real world to cyberspace. The emergence of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) has also paved the way for insurgents to spread their propaganda using such disruptive technologies. The duality of AI proved that while such new technology can bring vast improvements to various sectors, it also has the potential to facilitate extremist behaviours and activities. Terrorist and violent rebels have shifted their ways to use technologies such as AI to spread radical ideology and propaganda, recruit new members, organize financial support and operational tactics and manage online communities. Similarly, AI is seen as a holy grail especially in predictive analytics in the race to prevent and counter-terrorist activities. This research employs qualitative methodology, in which the primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The sampling method in this research is purposive sampling and the qualitative data analysis was conducted through thematic and content analysis, in which the observations and the interview transcripts from the semi-structured interviews were examined. The primary data were triangulated with data obtained from the stakeholders. The findings revealed that while the use of AI facilitates enforcers in predicting extremist activities, detecting misinformation and countering extremist narratives, such technology has also aided terrorists and extremists in spreading mass information via automatise chatbots and coordinating information and attacks. The use of AI is said to be a double-edged sword where it serves the aims of a nation’s cybersecurity strategies, but at the same time aid extremists in fulfilling their radical goals. The legal landscape governing AI is still scarce and challenges such as duality call for a specific legal guideline or legislation to aid in the effective governing of such crime.