UNESCO report says AI technology is fueling Holocaust denial online

AI technology is helping to create false stories about World War II atrocities including Holocaust denial, risking an “explosive spread of antisemitism,” the UN warns.

The UN’s education and culture body UNESCO calls for governments and tech companies to introduce ethical safeguards around AI technology, and for schools to spread the word about the risks of AI-generated content.

UNESCO’s report highlights instances where hackers rigged chatbots to spread Nazi ideology, and others where bots dreamed up their own stories around the Holocaust.

“If we allow the horrific facts of the Holocaust to be diluted, distorted or falsified through the irresponsible use of AI, we risk the explosive spread of antisemitism,” says Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s director-general. She says it could also lead to the “gradual diminution of our understanding about the causes and consequences of these atrocities.”

UNESCO’s policy paper, published jointly with the World Jewish Congress to mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, calls for “urgent action” from governments, tech companies and educators.