Extremists might use AI to plan attacks, Home Office warns

Extremists could use artificial intelligence to plan more sophisticated terror attacks, the Home Office has warned, amid a resurgence in activity by al-Qaida and Islamic state.

The risk of a serious incident in the UK is increasing, Suella Braverman said, accelerated by AI, the expected release of terror-connected prisoners this year and an “evolving” threat from Islamist groups.

In an update to Contest, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy for 20 years, the home secretary identified Islamic terrorism as the primary UK domestic threat, which accounted for two-thirds of attacks in 2018.

AI offers the potential for terrorist activity to become more sophisticated with less effort, the updated strategy warned.

“Terrorists are likely to exploit the technology to create and amplify radicalising content, propaganda and instructional materials, and to plan and commit attacks,” the report said.

Earlier this year Jaswant Singh Chail, a former supermarket worker, was jailed after planning an attack on the Queen at Windsor Castle after being encouraged by his “AI girlfriend”.

The issue of whether the government needs to update the regulatory framework will be discussed at an AI summit in the autumn.

On Monday, Labour announced plans to make training AI to incite violence or radicalise vulnerable people an offence under a Labour government.

In a further development, counter-terror officials are understood to expect individual terrorists to use the small boat Channel crossings to try to come to the UK, it was reported.

It is understood they believe it is an “opportunity” that terrorists may want to exploit but there is no evidence of an organised attempt by terror groups to do so.

Braverman, speaking in Westminster Hall, where some of the guests were survivors of UK terror attacks, warned that Russia, Iran and China posed significant risks to UK security, referring to Russia as “the most pressing national security concern”.

“Russia, Iran, and China have all shown themselves to be far too willing to exploit and destabilise our country,” Braverman said.

She also confirmed that overall, terrorism from Islamic groups was the most common form of terrorism in the UK.

“Northern Ireland-related terrorism remains a significant threat. Despite the significant progress in the last 20 years, some dissident groups continue to carry out attacks,” she said. “The threat continues to evolve and is increasing, meaning we must also evolve to keep the British people safe. We will work with the public and our international allies.”

This year’s review said the “primary domestic terrorist threat” came from “Islamist terrorism”, which makes up “approximately 67% of attacks since 2018, about three-quarters of MI5’s caseload and 64% of those in custody for terrorism-connected offences” as of March this year.

The next most serious threat is rightwing extremism, the review said. The Home Office said this made up 22% of attacks since 2018 and 28% of those in custody for terrorism-connected offences.

The strategy warned that while the government had stepped up its efforts to mitigate the terrorist risk posed by individuals in custody, the vast majority would require long-term risk management and may pose a threat in the UK that could last “decades post-release”.

There are now 232 offenders in custody convicted of terror-related offences.

The second part of this year poses a “particularly demanding” period for counter-terrorism officials because there are a large number of prisoners convicted of lengthy terror-related offences due for release.