Al-Ansar Fortress, a pro-Islamic State (IS) media group, has been publishing English translations of IS’s weekly al-Naba newspaper on the encrypted messenger and secure collaboration app Element since March 2025. The translations are released within hours of the Arabic originals, strongly suggesting the use of AI or machine-assisted tools with minimal human editing. However, this has raised ethical concerns with questions raised about whether the use of AI dilutes the religious purity of the message. IS has proven its willingness to incorporate modern technologies and banking which many would suggest are contradictory to IS religious ideals.
These translations exhibit varying quality, with news reports and infographics often rendered in English but with clumsy wording, stilted phrasing and literal translations of some Arabic idioms. Al-Ansar Fortress has experimented with varying formats for content, including summaries of editorials and “News Highlights” sections, and has improved its presentation over time. This disparity in quality is likely due to the difference in source language complexity: al-Naba’s news reports are written in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which AI tools generally handle more effectively. Many of the IS editorials employ classical Arabic, often including elaborate language, which automated systems struggle to process accurately.
Al Naba
Al-Naba is IS’s longest-running, and currently only regular publication, providing a weekly roundup of IS activity, infographics, and occasional articles. The publication has a centrepiece editorial on page three, which is a key component of IS propaganda, allowing the group to comment on key developments and communicate with followers and enemies. As a crucial propaganda output for IS it is understandable that IS supporter media are keen to translate this to reach a wider global audience.
About Al-Ansar Fortress:
Al-Ansar Fortress has maintained an online presence for several years, focusing on producing and disseminating English-language materials. The group operates mainly on the decentralized messaging platform Element, sharing English translations of al-Naba and other IS-related content.
Al-Ansar Fortress’s Role:
Al-Ansar Fortress positions its translations as “weekly guidance from Dawlah [the State],” underscoring its intent to reinforce ideological commitment among non-Arabic-speaking IS supporters. The group’s use of AI-powered translation enables rapid dissemination of IS content to a global audience.
Implications:
The growing use of AI translation tools in IS media operations represents a change in approach, enabling the group to maintain a rapid publication schedule and reach non-Arabic-speaking audiences. However, reliance on automated systems can lead to inconsistent and translation quality issues, potentially introducing errors and misinterpretations of the original message. This is particularly concerning considering the religious pedestal that the organization attempts to portray itself on.
IS has leveraged AI to assist in the production of online content to offset the limited capacity of a highly attritted media production apparatus. This has raised ethical concerns from some quarters, with questions raised about whether the use of AI dilutes the religious purity of a message.
Avoidance of latest technology
One of the key tenets of the IS ideology is the rejection of innovation, and embracement of a strict interpretation of Islamic Law; artificial intelligence therefore forms a tool of the kuffur, a distraction from the true goal of Jihad and a mechanism for the West to control the narrative. Previous Califs have warned about the use of modern technology, with Abu-Bakr stating that “the mujahideen must avoid the traps of the enemy and not be distracted by the latest technology”, and asked supporters to “focus on the real battle, the battle for the hearts and minds of the people, and not be swayed by the materialistic and hedonistic values of the West”.
Regardless of this it is unlikely that IS will sacrifice their desire to reach a global audience over concerns about religious purity. The group has proven its willingness to flex its approach to religious purity and Sharia law dependent on its needs. The group’s global calif hides behind a faceless kunya in order to protect his lack of Qurayshi lineage. The incorporation of Western technologies and non-Sharia compliant banking and cryptocurrencies are all topics that IS has demonstrated a willingness to make concessions with regards to religious purity, instead favoring its global survival and attempted expansion.