Generative AI reshapes jihadist propaganda on TikTok
An Institute for Strategic Dialogue report identified 150 AI-generated or AI-assisted videos across 71 TikTok accounts, with more than 5.4 million views.
Supporters of Islamic State and al-Qaida are reportedly using generative AI to recast jihadist propaganda as cartoons, memes and fan edits, according to research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue cited by WIRED.
The report identified 150 “Slop Jihad” videos across 71 TikTok accounts, attracting more than 5.4 million views. Examples included a SpongeBob-style recreation of an Islamic State drowning video and anime adaptations of ISIS’s al-Naba newsletter.
Researchers said the format could make extremist material more accessible to younger audiences and allow propaganda to circulate in entertainment-oriented forms. The findings do not establish that the creators were coordinated by Islamic State or al-Qaida, or that the material directly caused radicalisation.
TikTok disputed the report’s methodology, saying its conclusions were poorly evidenced and did not reflect how people use the platform. The company said all content referenced in the report had been removed, while dozens of videos were deleted after WIRED shared them with TikTok.
The research follows earlier efforts by jihadist supporters to adapt emerging media, including the “Alt Jihad” trend in the early 2020s and AI-generated news anchors used by an Islamic State-affiliated programme in 2024. Researchers said some monitored accounts had backup profiles, with some content remaining online for months despite moderation efforts.
