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Armed forces monitor cyberspace for terror groups exploiting AI in recruitment

KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces will continuously be on guard to monitor international terror organisations that use artificial intelligence (AI) to spread their ideology and propaganda to attract new followers.

In doing so, Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Division director-general Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Fadzli Kamal Mohd Mohaldin said the armed forces would work with other related agencies for information sharing over the threat.

"We (the armed forces) need to conduct information-sharing activities (with other agencies), as the systems used are different.

"This is as detecting such threats (the dissemination of terrorist ideology and propaganda) depends on the system that we (the armed forces) use, which is not the same as those used by other agencies.

"If an old system is used, detection is limited. This is why a continuous update of the system is needed.

"What is more important is that when we get any information, we need to be aware for further action to be taken against the organisations," he said in an exclusive interview with reporters from the New Straits Times Press after the launch of the 2024 Siber Siaga (Cyber Readiness) event today.

Fadzli said it was imperative that a collaboration between the government and the private sector be conducted.

"We need to collaborate with the private sector because they are more vulnerable as they operate independently.

"We, on the other hand, focus on national security and resilience, so our concept is different."

He said the armed forces would consider getting assistance from the private sector due to its capabilities, as some companies compete in the world of technology.

On Monday, it was reported that international terror organisations are using artificial intelligence to spread their ideology and propaganda to attract new followers, especially the younger generations.

This new strategy was discovered by the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT), which had previously identified social media and online video games as recent channels used by terrorists to prepare and disseminate radical and extremist content.

According to studies and analyses by SEARCCT, which is an agency under the Foreign Ministry, terrorist groups are using AI to create propaganda in various languages tailored to the socio-linguistic conditions of their targets.

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