The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Rise of Antisemitic Hate Groups Amidst Hamas Attacks

Hate groups and far-right online trolls have exploited the Israel-Hamas conflict to fuel antisemitism in the United States, utilizing the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. By capitalizing on the intersection of the ongoing war and the rapid development of readily available AI tools, these antisemitic groups have weaponized the technology to produce offensive images and audio used for targeted harassment against the Jewish community, as per online extremism researchers.

According to Ben Decker, CEO of Memetica, a threat analysis company that monitors online hate, there is a troubling ideological convergence between far-right communities online and pro-Hamas sentiment. Law enforcement is closely monitoring this activity as antisemitism continues to increase nationwide. Preliminary data released by the Anti-Defamation League on Monday shows a 316% rise in antisemitic incidents in the US since the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, compared to the same period last year.

Shortly after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued warnings regarding potential threats towards Jewish, Muslim, and Arab-American communities. They highlighted the fact that antisemitism and anti-Islamic sentiment are deeply ingrained in many violent extremist ideologies, often serving as a driving force behind attacks carried out by various extremist groups. Both agencies are set to address the issue of domestic extremism during a hearing on Capitol Hill, with FBI Director Christopher Wray already acknowledging that antisemitism in the US has reached unprecedented levels. Additionally, a police bulletin obtained by CNN reveals that the DHS has gathered information on racist and hate groups within the country who are actively celebrating attacks on the Jewish community.

Members of the National Justice Party (NJP), an antisemitic group, demonstrated outside the White House last month praising Hamas.

National Justice Party

Artificial intelligence, real hate

The October 7 attack was swiftly celebrated by users on the infamous hate-filled online forum 4chan, marking a disturbing combination of extremist ideologies from Hamas and White supremacists. Despite the seemingly contradictory nature of White supremacists supporting an Islamic terrorist group, Decker asserts that their deep-rooted hatred for Jewish people surpasses any other considerations.

Karen Dunn, a lawyer who filed a lawsuit against the individuals accountable for the violence during the fatal Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, stated to CNN that the hate groups possess a strong animosity towards everyone, but display a particular disdain towards the Jewish community. Dunn noted that antisemitism serves as a connecting factor among various hate groups, allowing their hatred to extend to other targets as well.

Dunn highlighted the events that occurred in Charlottesville, stating that the weekend commenced with expressions of anti-Semitism and eventually escalated into racially driven violence targeting multiple communities.

Decker acknowledged the success of Hamas' approach in promoting its terrorist assault through social media, even though the majority of prominent platforms have banned the organization. Following the attacks on October 7, their already significant presence on Telegram, the social media messaging app, experienced a dramatic surge in followers.

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The Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt is seen on October 10.

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Decker explained that there are multiple levels of coordination involved in this process. Initially, the fighters share the footage almost instantly with the social media operators. Subsequently, this content finds its way onto platforms such as Telegram. It is worth noting that sometimes this content gets uploaded to major platforms like Meta and YouTube before eventually being taken down. However, Decker pointed out that 4chan users contribute to the widespread dissemination of this terrorist content.

Recently, 4chan users have been circulating instructions on utilizing freely accessible AI image generation tools to produce antisemitic portrayals of Jewish individuals, perpetuating antiquated stereotypes depicting them as malevolent or money-hungry puppet masters, as reported by Memetica.

The trolls are urged to generate images using their preferred AI generation tool and disseminate them online. Detailed instructions are provided on utilizing Microsoft Bing's new AI image tool for creating these images.

Despite the presence of regulations and protective measures on platforms like Microsoft and other AI platforms to prevent the misuse of their technology for creating such images, trolls have discovered ways to bypass these limitations. Recently, researchers at Carnegie Mellon demonstrated to CNN how AI technology can be manipulated into performing undesired actions.

Decker expressed concern about the ease with which the existing policies and mechanisms can be manipulated and evaded, especially when it comes to images. This vulnerability poses a serious challenge to the upcoming phase of content moderation.

In a statement to CNN, a Microsoft spokesperson emphasized the company's strong commitment to developing trustworthy and inclusive AI technologies. They stated that Microsoft strictly prohibits the creation of harmful content and is currently looking into reports of antisemitic content.

A fake call

The voice on the call on October 25 introduced itself as Jon Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. Undoubtedly, it bore a striking resemblance to Jonathan Greenblatt, the esteemed head of ADL, a renowned organization in the country dedicated to combating antisemitism.

But the voice that spoke during a city council meeting in Calabasas, California, quickly shifted its focus to promoting the activities of an anti-Semitic hate group called the Goyim Defense League (GDL). This group has been responsible for distributing anti-Semitic flyers throughout various communities nationwide.

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The voice, though resembling Greenblatt, did not belong to him. It was produced using advanced AI technology capable of imitating human voices.

"Although it may not be the most polished AI, it's one of the earliest versions," commented Jon Minadeo, the GDL hate network's leader, as he watched a recording of the call made to the Calabasas city council during a video stream. "We will continue to refine it."

After the AI call ended, additional participants with antisemitic sentiments joined the meeting, including an individual whose name, when pronounced, resembled "Jew destroyer." In response, the mayor of the city, David Shapiro, immediately intervened, firmly stating, "We will not tolerate such offensive communication and hate speech within our city, particularly at this time."

City councils across the nation initiated the practice of enabling citizens to participate in meetings remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in recent times, these councils have encountered a distressing issue: a surge in antisemitic individuals calling in.

The impact of these calls is not restricted to California; these extremists have successfully infiltrated city council meetings in various states, including Iowa, Massachusetts, and Oregon. In addition, they have disrupted virtual gatherings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous sessions and police commissioner meetings, often utilizing pseudonyms linked to the Third Reich. Shockingly, some callers even assert their dwelling to be identified as "88," which is a symbolic code representing "Heil Hitler."

According to an ADL spokesperson, extremists are increasingly utilizing AI to manipulate and maliciously target not just the ADL but also other Jewish individuals. In a recent CNN investigation, it was discovered that at least 8 social media posts by a GDL associate incorporated voice manipulation techniques starting from October 7. These videos overlaid altered audio onto different individuals such as local anchors, Jewish politicians, and renowned broadcasters.

On the streets

Antisemitic fliers were found around Fairfax, Virginia, last month.

WJLA

While these groups have readily embraced advanced methods of disseminating hate, they continue to make use of a traditional yet successful tactic: distributing antisemitic fliers.

The GDL's fliers, which perpetuate age-old stereotypes about Jewish individuals, have appeared in various neighborhoods nationwide. Carla Hill, the senior investigative research director at the ADL's Center on Extremism, has confirmed that this year alone, over 284 instances of the abhorrent fliers mentioned in Calabasas have been distributed in 35 different states throughout the country.

In Atlanta, the GDL projected antisemitic messages on CNN Center last month. The leader of the hate group, Minadeo, has been sentenced to 30 days in prison in Florida this month for distributing antisemitic fliers. Although hate speech is protected by the First Amendment, Minadeo was charged and convicted of littering by prosecutors in Palm Beach County. His attorney has stated that he intends to appeal the conviction.

Since the October 7 attack on Israel, hate groups also have attempted to latch onto the pro-Palestinian movement to push their own antisemitism-promoting agenda.

In this illustrative photo captured on August 21, 2023, in Krakow, Poland, icons of Facebook, X, and Instagram can be observed appearing on a mobile phone screen. The photo credit goes to Jakub Porzycki from NurPhoto via Getty Images.

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Last month, outside the White House, members of the National Justice Party (NJP), an antisemitic group formed by participants of the Unite the Right rally, commended Hamas.

In Missoula, Montana, during a demonstration, pro-Palestine protesters expressed their opposition to a White supremacist group by chanting "go home Nazis".

Notably, the US has witnessed a surge in public displays of various forms of hate, besides antisemitism, since the initiation of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Department of Homeland Security has observed that certain extremists in the US use the violence perpetrated by Muslims abroad as a pretext to target the Muslim community within the country, as stated in a police bulletin obtained by CNN. The bulletin highlighted various incidents in October where anonymous calls were made to mosques and an Islamic school in Arizona, containing menacing and offensive language. Additionally, the bulletin indicated a rise in reports from the public about individuals whom they suspect, solely based on their race, religion, or country of origin, to be involved in terrorist activities.