Gaming, AI take centre stage in tussle over youth radicalisation

As extremist groups tap technology to influence young people, can the authorities hit back with the same tools?

- Noor Huda Ismail

As the world prepares to mark the first anniversary of the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the focus is once again on the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine - a conflict with deep historical roots that stretch back to the establishment of Israel as a state in 1948.

This pivotal event, which marked the creation of a new nation for Jews in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust, also resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, triggering decades of tension, violence, and competing claims to land, identity and sovereignty.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far from being a simple story of black and white; it's a narrative of historical grievances, mutual fears, and complex political realities that have evolved over more than seven decades.

In this context, the recent attack by Hamas is but another chapter in a long and painful history, serving as a reminder of how these conflicts not only remain unresolved but also continue to find new battlegrounds in the digital age.

Today, extremist groups are increasingly weaponising technology to recruit, radicalise and exploit young people, and they are infiltrating some unexpected arenas - gaming and artificial intelligence (AI).

As we reflect on the deep-seated roots of historical conflicts, we must also recognise the pressing need to address how these technologies are being used to propagate radical ideologies and how they have emerged as powerful tools in the war for hearts and minds.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE GAME

Imagine young teenagers starting a gaming session on their computers, seeking a momentary escape from reality. As they delve into a virtual world, they are unaware that this seemingly innocent experience could become a pathway to radicalisation. Increasingly, games are being co-opted by extremist groups, transforming them into tools of indoctrination and recruitment.