TikTok: AI-Generated Content of Bigoted Leaders Revives Xenophobic Legacy
Generative artificial intelligence is threatening to revive the terrifying legacies of bigots like Adolf Hitler, as TikTok users harness the app’s AI tools to recreate xenophobic speeches from long-dead leaders. Recently, two reports from non-profit watchdog group Media Matters for America and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and SITE Intelligence Group, published in the Washington Post, highlighted a small network of TikTok accounts creating and sharing translated, AI-dubbed versions of Hitler’s speeches.
The reports indicate that AI-generated audios have accumulated millions of views, featuring videos that range from mocking the leader to turning the audio into memes. Some accounts appear to be dedicated to creating and sharing these audios seriously, often with outright anti-Semitic messaging. The problem has been ongoing since at least April 2024, with several improperly translated videos still circulating.
After the reports were published, TikTok removed the account of one known uploader and redirected related searches to a "Facts About the Holocaust" page, detailing Hitler’s brutal slaughter of millions of civilians, including Jews, disabled people, political prisoners, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those of Romani origin. The Washington Post reported that known fascist groups have praised the use of AI to spread hate speech, citing a growing number of "red-pilled" young people engaging with right-wing communities online. Experts worry that the spread of AI-assisted content will outpace moderation efforts on platforms like TikTok, Meta, and X.
The reports highlighted a concerning trend: both positive and negative sentiments exist in the videos’ comment sections, with some users praising Hitler’s policies or ideologies. This has prompted concerns that users may unknowingly be radicalized by the content. The AI-generated content is not isolated to Hitler; similar instances of rewriting historical figures’ legacies have appeared on TikTok, often utilizing AI tools.
In 2023, a mistaken leak of TikTok’s new AI digital avatar tool led to the circulation of AI-generated videos featuring avatars reciting white supremacist rhetoric, including excerpts from Mein Kampf and Osama Bin Laden’s "Letter to America." The recent AI-generated content has already garnered millions of views and is spreading hate speech at an alarming rate.
While TikTok has removed a known account and redirected search queries to educational content, watchdog groups worry that more needs to be done to stop the spread of disinformation and hate speech. As AI-generated content becomes increasingly prevalent, it’s essential for social media companies to prioritize moderation and keep up with the evolving ways that users spread hate and propaganda online.
