MI5 Chief warns of growing terror AI threat as right-wing extremism reaches children as young as 13

Sir Ken McCallum said terrorists have been caught trying to exploit AI to 'improve their reconnaissance and attack methodologies'

Extreme right-wing terrorism is continuing to infiltrate younger people in the UK who are being taken down 'dark paths' of the internet, the Director General of MI5 has said.

In his annual update on current threats to the UK, Sir Ken McCallum said that just months ago, MI5 was investigating a radicalised extreme right-wing 13-year-old in the UK.

During his speech to select media at Thames House, the headquarters of the UK’s domestic intelligence agency, today (13 October), Sir Ken said of the investigation: “Believe me, we wish we didn’t have to. But that investigation generated insight that enabled one of our international partners to prevent a lethal attack on their soil.”

He added: “We will continue to work tirelessly to detect and get ahead of such volatile threats. But no system can catch them all.”

Currently, the terror threat in the UK remains high, with the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) having increased the UK terrorism threat to severe, which means an attack in the UK is ‘highly likely’ for the first time in almost five years.

On advice to parents, he said (if) 'you’re worried your teenager is being taken down some dark paths on the internet, have a word with a teacher, healthcare professional or someone you trust in your community'.

Sir Ken also announced the launch of an AI Threat Assessment Centre – to be known as AITAC – in the UK, which will be housed in MI5 and bring together expertise from various bodies to inform Government and produce assessments.

He said Artificial Intelligence (AI) was 'supercharging the cybersecurity contest between attackers and defenders', given it can produce 'propaganda' and also 'radicalise material tailored to the individual'.

“We’ve caught terrorists seeking to exploit AI to improve their reconnaissance and attack methodologies, with AI-enabled drones adding a new twist,” he said.

He added: “Not yet realised – but the misuse case to which I’d attach the greatest weight – is AI’s potential to change the stakes on existing or even new bioweapons.”

Earlier in the week, Britain’s AI minister Kanishka Narayan warned that a breach of the UK’s cyber defences was 'likely, if not inevitable'.

Over the last few months, experts have also warned that AI could wipe out humanity within the near future if the technology race is allowed to go on unchecked.

Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe died aged 78 after being hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Devon in July.

The man accused of murdering her, Joshua Kerry, 28, has also been charged with a terror plot against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

Speaking about societal resilience, Sir Ken said that 'sadly, the case is part of a concerning trend of violence targeted at political figures, religious or community groups and more'.

On Monday, 12 October, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an independent review of the UK’s protective security system.

Topics: UK News, Crime, Politics, Terrorism

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