Islamic State Utilizes AI for Propaganda Following Murder of Spanish Tourists: "Spanish translations of AI-generated propaganda are frequent after this incident"
In recent years, terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State (ISIS), have been increasingly exploiting Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for propaganda and recruitment purposes, according to a 2025 insight from the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET).
Although no specific, Spain-focused, 2024 report detailing ISIS's use of AI in a terror propaganda campaign was found, related findings indicate that such a trend is not uncommon.
The Islamic State has structures dedicated to translating and disseminating jihadist content into Spanish. One of the most common platforms for this is "The Voice of Al Andalus."
In a chilling development, Al Azaim Media Foundation, considered by the European Union as the media branch of ISIS's Central Asian branch, the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP), produced a half-hour video about a terrorist attack that also included calls to potential lone actors to carry out attacks in Western countries.
The attack in question took place in the city of Bamiyan, Afghanistan, where four Spaniards and three Afghans were killed by machine gun fire in a market. The Memorial Center for Victims of Terrorism is currently focusing on this attack, which resulted in Spanish fatalities.
The Ílam Foundation, created four years ago, is a group that translates messages and disseminates them in as many languages as possible. This organisation played a role in the propaganda campaign following the bombing in Bamiyan.
The use of AI in extremist propaganda is part of a wider cognitive warfare trend documented in recent years. Terrorists, alongside states and corporations, use sophisticated psychological and technological means—including AI—to manipulate perceptions and influence minds.
While the search for the two occupants of a light aircraft that crashed into the sea off the lighthouse of Sóller, in Mallorca, continues, the broader threat of terrorism and the role of AI in its propagation remains a pressing concern. It is advisable to consult counterterrorism agencies, specialized security research groups, or governmental reports on extremism for more comprehensive and authoritative information on this subject.
- The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (ISIS) in international propaganda and recruitment efforts is not limited to Spain, as indicated by the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), with such a trend being observed globally.
- In light of the chilling development wherein Al Azaim Media Foundation, the media branch of ISIS's Central Asian branch, the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP), employed AI in a propaganda video calling for attacks in Western countries, it is evident that the exploration of artificial-intelligence technology in this context is part of a broader cognitive warfare trend.
