Algorithms and salad bars: Religious Rehabilitation Group studies impact of AI, tech on radicalisation

In another case, a youth who wanted to conduct a shooting attack at various mosques had considered 3D-printing his own firearms. He was issued an order of detention in 2025.

Besides the evolving technology, the world has also changed, said Shanmugam. The Middle East is far more unstable now compared with the early 2000s, with at least two ongoing wars and many divisions.

He said extremists use these conflicts to advance their propaganda, framing them along racial, religious and community lines.

Complex historical situations are broken down into “very simple emotional narratives, sound bites”.

The minister noted that since the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023, six Singaporeans have been detained or issued restriction orders under the Internal Security Act for supporting or making preparations to engage in armed violence in Gaza or Iran.

He also said there has been a rise of “salad bar” radicalisation, where individuals, particularly young people, select ideas from different extremist religious and non-religious ideologies.

Speaking to The Straits Times, RRG’s secretary, Ustaz Mohamed Feisal Mohamed Hassan, said the organisation has responded to various extremist threats over the years and sought to keep up with the times, including advances in technology.

On the AI front, he said RRG is engaging experts to understand the kind of threats that the technology poses to young people, and how it can be used by counsellors in their work.

This is done through seminars on AI and its capabilities.

One such talk was on AI-based radicalisation, which was conducted during the RRG retreat by Zora Sukabdi, a forensic psychologist who also works with radicalised individuals from Indonesia.

The retreat from June 1 to June 4 is for RRG members, including counsellors, religious teachers and mentors, with the theme “Building youth resilience against radicalisation”.

Speaking at the retreat, RRG’s co-chairman, Ustaz Mohamed Ali, said the theme was both timely and important as Singapore’s rapidly ageing population means that young people have become even more precious assets to be protected.

“This is against the backdrop where global societies are facing rapidly evolving security challenges. These challenges, including extremist ideologies, will spread and impact the young faster, deeper, and in more subtle ways than ever before,” he said.

“This is because much of these externalities thrive in the digital space, a popular and powerful playground for our youth.”

He added that RRG’s outreach and presence must occupy the same space as such externalities.

He also highlighted the organisation’s new WhatsApp channel, launched on May 14, which it will use to share religious reflections and reminders, educational content on religious concepts, and commentary on contemporary issues affecting the community.

Shanmugam said the RRG plays a critical role in Singapore’s approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism, highlighting that the organisation provides credible religious guidance and helps counter distorted interpretations of Islam.

RRG engages individuals directly, with empathy and understanding, and builds trust and friendship with those who have taken the wrong path, the minister said.

“You bring the credibility… (If) the Government tried doing it, it won’t have the credibility.”