Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the European Union issued an alert about a new terrorist threat circulating online, particularly among young people. The main concern of European authorities is linked to the growing use of artificial intelligence by extremist groups for recruitment and attack preparation purposes.
According to the EU report, artificial intelligence bots were used to strengthen the recruitment of new members and to spread terrorist ideologies on digital platforms. These automated tools allow reaching a much larger and vulnerable audience, especially the youngest who spend much of their time online.
Furthermore, artificial intelligence applications were also used to research and prepare attacks, facilitating access to sensitive information and allowing individuals with violent intentions to find ways to carry out their plans. This technological use represents a significant evolution compared to traditional terrorist threats.
European authorities consider that the combination of young people's exposure to the internet and the sophisticated use of AI by extremist groups constitutes an unprecedented security challenge, requiring new prevention and counter-terrorism strategies in the digital space.
