Artificial intelligence is “supercharging” the growth of threats against the UK and, in the wrong hands, could lead to criminals and terrorists using AI to develop biological weapons.
The stark warning comes from the head of Britain’s security service. Sir Ken McCallum, Director General of MI5, delivered his latest assessment of the threats facing the UK, highlighting the dangers of AI, saying: “AI is already supercharging the cybersecurity contest between attackers and defenders.”
Announcing the establishment of a new “AI Threat Assessment Centre”, Sir Ken said the new team, housed in MI5, would look at the opportunities and risks thrown up by the fast-paced changes brought about by AI.
Security and Government officials are increasingly concerned in the wrong hands, AI could prove to be a huge threat. Officials are worried the rapid pace of the development of AI technology could mean that terrorists could either gain better knowledge of how to develop biological weapons or use the information across open sources to learn how to release biological agents and viruses into the population.
Sir Ken’s assessment shows a multi-layered series of threats to the UK from all angles.
In an unprecedented development, he announced this year MI5 is devoting more resources to state threats from Russia, Iran and China than during the Cold War. “Over the last decade”, he said, “our State Threats caseload has quadrupled”.
On Russia, the current number one threat to the UK, he called out the country’s President Vladimir Putin for waging a campaign of “hybrid warfare”. He accused Russia of “using tactics that stop short – though sometimes not much short – of conventional conflict”, as the Kremlin “continues to lash out at the UK and its allies”.
“It’s no accident”, he said, “Russian aggressors are trying to unsettle other European homelands at a time when their military progress in Ukraine is minimal and horrifically costly.”
However, Sir Ken would not be drawn on whether Russia had directly interfered in the result of the Brexit referendum in 2016. He did acknowledge there was evidence of Russian activity during the 2019 General Election campaign, but he stopped short of adding fuel to a political controversy that has gripped Westminster, alongside Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s commitment to closer ties with the EU.
Another key threat to UK national security is Iran, according to the MI5 chief. Over the last twelve months, Iran-linked operations have, he said, led to more than fifty arrests in the UK.
And Sir Ken highlighted much of Iran’s aggression has been targeted at British Jewish communities with whom he expressed “solidarity”.
As well as attacks against synagogues and other Jewish targets, he focused on the threats to UK military sites from the Iranian regime and its military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He would not be drawn into details around the current investigation into the direct threat to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, from where US bombers have carried out raids against Iran. But Sir Ken issued a clear warning to would-be plotters and attackers, saying, “Those who seek to cause mayhem on British streets – whether hired thugs here or their paymasters overseas – will meet an unflinching response.”
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On the other main state threat, from China, Sir Ken said his agency was focused on countering the efforts of “various arms of the Chinese state to conduct espionage, coercion or democratic interference”.
Terrorism remains a top concern for MI5. With the current UK terror threat level at “severe”, it means the spy agency cannot let down its guard. Sir Ken pointed to continuing efforts by Al Qaida and Islamic State groups to direct and inspire attacks. He was keen to highlight efforts to disrupt plots, including a new threat against Jews in Manchester. “Three Islamist extremists”, he said, “were convicted in February for planning to use automatic weapons against the Jewish community in Manchester”.
However, he also spoke of the increasing threat from Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism spurred on by an increase in cases of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievances, including plots to attack mosques and venues connected to immigration and asylum.
“Extreme Right Wing Terrorism”, he said, “also continues to skew young, driven by the internet.” And he spoke of an extraordinary situation where MI5 recently investigated a 13-year-old child in connection with an extreme right-wing plot.
Speaking candidly, the MI5 boss told reporters he is worried about the speed at which threats are increasing across a wide spectrum.
In an age of accelerating technological innovation, he said he spent much of his time thinking about how to stay ahead of the curve to be able to balance the positive elements of tech against the harm it could bring.
And he urged everyone in the UK to be vigilant and report any concerns. “My message to the British public is this: you have a stake in our national resilience.
“You too have a vital role to play.”
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