Criminal use of AI translation is very dangerous for global security. It enables malicious actors to automatically translate phishing attacks, scams, and disinformation into multiple languages, lowering barriers and widening reach.
In November 2024, the U.S. Treasury’s FinCEN issued an urgent alert that deepfake media generated with AI tools are being used in fraud schemes, including falsified ID documents and impersonating trusted individuals to bypass security checks.
Extremist groups are also exploiting AI: for instance, terrorists and violent extremists have used AI-powered tools to create and translate propaganda across languages. Tech Against Terrorism identified over 5,000 pieces of AI-generated extremist content and noted how automated multilingual translation is being used to overwhelm moderation systems.
AI translation removes language barriers from cybercrime and extremism, making threats both harder to stop and more rapidly scalable.
How AI Translation Is Becoming a Weapon in Cybercrime
AI translation tools are supposed to help people talk across languages. But cybercriminals are now using them to scale attacks globally, with much more realism and speed.
For instance, deepfake scams tied to cryptocurrency have become slick operations. Scammers hijack Instagram or YouTube accounts, post a manipulated livestream of a celebrity (like Elon Musk), and link to a fake site that promises free crypto or “double your money.”
These scams now include multilingual phishing pages and AI-powered chat support to trick victims in different languages trmlabs.com.
In one case, from June 2024, TRM tracked over $5 million in crypto from victims through a deepfake Elon Musk story, highlighting how AI tools break language barriers and make global scams push sooner, smoother, and more believable.
Deepfakes, Disinformation, and the Role of Multilingual AI
Fake videos and texts are becoming a major threat, and AI translation is making them spread faster and in more languages.
For example, a deepfake video of a leader saying something inflammatory can be quickly subtitled and voiced in multiple languages. That means a single false message can travel across borders and feel local and real to many audiences.
Europol has warned that criminal networks now use AI to craft messages in several languages and create very realistic impersonations to trick people across the globe.
How Multilingual AI Fuels Disinformation
| Tactic | How AI Translation Helps |
| Fake speeches | Voice cloning and subtitles in many languages |
| Propaganda videos | Localization with culturally accurate content |
| Election interference | Targeting voters in their native tongue |
| Hate messages | Amplifying harmful content beyond one region |
When a lie speaks your language, you’re more likely to trust it. That’s why AI translation makes disinformation so much more dangerous.
How Criminals Use AI Translation for Phishing, Scams, and Social Engineering
Scam emails used to be easy to spot. They were full of awkward wording or grammar mistakes.
That’s not the case anymore. Criminals now use AI to write better scams, and AI translation helps them send these scams to people all over the world in their own language.
In 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department warned that scammers are using AI to create more believable phishing emails and messages. These messages are clean, professional, and personalized.
With AI translation, criminals don’t need to know multiple languages. The AI handles that for them.
Common scams boosted by AI translation:
- Fake emails from a “boss” asking for money transfers
- Job offers that look real and speak your language
- Tech support scams that match your country’s lingo
- Phishing links that lead to fake login pages
AI translation helps scammers sound local and trusted, which makes it easier to trick people.
The Hidden Dangers of AI Translation in Espionage and Surveillance
AI translation is helping cybercriminals and spies make sense of stolen data faster. It is not just about breaking into systems, it is about understanding what they steal and using it right away.
In 2024, Ukrainian cyber officials reported that Russian hackers used AI tools to scan and translate stolen emails.
The AI picked out what was important and helped the attackers create fake emails that looked real and personal. These messages were then used to trick people into giving up even more information.
How AI translation helps spying:
- Translates stolen emails and files into the attacker’s language
- Helps craft fake messages that feel local and believable
- Makes it harder to trace or detect the original source
How Open‑Source Translation Models Can Aid Global Terrorism
Open-source AI translation models are free and easy to use. This makes them useful for everyone, including terrorist and extremist groups. These groups use translation tools to spread propaganda, train followers, and plan attacks in multiple languages without hiring translators.
In 2024, a report by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) confirmed that terrorist groups have started experimenting with generative AI, including open-source models, to create and translate content that helps recruit and radicalize across borders.
How Terror Groups Use AI Translation
| Use Case | How It Helps Extremists |
| Propaganda translation | Speaks to people in their native languages |
| Training and manuals | Spreads attack methods across borders |
| Evasion | Avoids detection by using local terms and slang |
| Speed and scale | Translates large content quickly and cheaply |
These tools were built for good. But without rules, they are also helping the wrong people move faster and smarter.
The Regulatory Gap: Why AI Translation Tools Are Hard to Govern
AI translation tools can be downloaded and used by anyone. That sounds useful, but it also means people with bad intentions can access them easily. Right now, most countries are struggling to create laws that keep up with this technology.
For example:
- The EU’s AI Act started in August 2024. It places strict rules on high-risk AI. But general-purpose tools like translation models do not face the same limits. Open-source models have even fewer controls.
- A new AI treaty, backed by more than 50 countries, focuses on human rights and ethics. But it does not cover how AI is used for national security or defense. That creates loopholes.
Why It’s Hard to Regulate AI Translation
| Problem | What It Means |
| Open-source freedom | People can share and use models without anyone checking how they are used |
| Global tools, local laws | A model legal in one country can cause harm in another |
| Defense is excluded | Some laws skip tools used for security, which are often the most dangerous ones |
Without clear international rules, bad actors can take advantage of the cracks.
The Risks of Data Leaks in AI Translation Tools
AI translation tools often send your text to the cloud. Many people don’t realize that what they type can be saved, reused, or even exposed to hackers.
In 2020, a popular AI translation service leaked classified documents from European governments. The system stored past translations to improve its output, but it didn’t have strong protections in place. Hackers found a way in and exposed sensitive data.
This isn’t a one-time problem. Many free or cheap translation tools do the same thing without telling users.
Why AI Translation Tools Can Be Risky
| Risk | What Happens |
| Data is stored | Your private text may be saved without your knowledge |
| Weak security | Hackers can access stored translations if the system has flaws |
| Unknown data policies | Many services do not clearly explain how they use or protect your information |
Always read the privacy policy before using AI tools for sensitive content.
The Risks of Data Leaks in AI Translation Tools
AI translation tools seem fast and easy, but many of them send your text to outside servers. This means your words might be saved, copied, or even seen by others.
In some cases, sensitive documents like contracts or private messages have ended up stored in systems that are not fully protected. Free tools are the most risky. Some collect user input to improve their translations, but they do not always tell you.
In 2023, experts at InterpretCloud and Polilingua warned that poorly secured AI translation tools could leak private or sensitive data.
Common Problems with AI Translators
| Risk | What Can Go Wrong |
| Text is stored | Your translations might be saved forever without your knowledge |
| No encryption | Hackers can steal your data during upload or storage |
| Vague privacy rules | Services may share or reuse your words without asking |
Stopping the misuse of AI translation means building smart rules, working together, and using tech to fight back.What Governments and Tech Providers Can Do: These steps help ensure AI translation stays helpful, and not dangerous. AI translation is a powerful tool, but in the wrong hands, it makes global crime faster and harder to detect. From phishing scams to extremist propaganda, it removes language barriers for criminals. As this threat grows, governments and tech companies must act together with clear rules, strong tools, and shared responsibility. The goal is simple, stop the misuse before it spreads further.Solutions and Safeguards: How to Limit Criminal Use of AI Translation
Countries need shared, enforceable rules for AI. In 2024, the Council of Europe introduced a treaty called the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence. It requires AI systems to respect human rights, include transparency, and allow people to challenge AI decisions. Over 50 countries have signed up.
The EU’s AI Act, enforced from August 2024, sets rules for AI systems based on their risk. It includes special controls for translation models. The European AI Office oversees compliance and can issue fines.
New rules are starting to require providers to stop AI from generating harmful content. If users create or share illegal things, providers may have to act, by warning users, limiting features, or removing content altogether.
Beyond rules, we need ways to detect fake content. AI labs and safety groups use techniques like red-teaming (stress-testing models), independent audits, incident reporting systems, and shared safety guidelines to catch abuse early.Comparison Table: How to Keep AI Translation Safe
Goal
What Helps Achieve It
Stop harmful use
Global treaties, strong national rules, AI Act enforcement
Hold systems accountable
Offices like EU AI Office with real penalties and audits
Catch misuse early
Detection tools, safety audits, incident reporting systems
Empower users
Transparency, human rights protections, ability to challenge AI
Conclusion
