Surge in AI-Generated Islamophobic Imagery Raises Alarm in India
A new report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) warns that AI-generated images are being weaponized across Indian social media to produce and amplify anti-Muslim content.
The study, cited by Maktoob Media, analyzed 1,326 AI-created images posted by 297 accounts between May 2023 and May 2025, finding that these posts accumulated over 27 million total engagements across X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Key findings show that sexualized images of Muslim women drew the most interaction, and common themes included narratives such as “Love Jihad,” “Population Jihad,” and portrayals of Muslim men as violent. The report describes the phenomenon as more automation of existing hate than creation of new ones.
Recent media reports confirm these destructive dynamics. A Dunya News article highlights how these images often depict Muslim men wearing skull caps in menacing roles, and notes that only one out of 187 flagged posts was removed — suggesting weak enforcement of platform policies.
This trend arises amid growing concern over press safety in India. According to Reporters Without Borders / RSF, since 2014, at least 28 journalists have been killed in India, with many targeted for reporting on land, mining, or corruption. In 2025 alone, one journalist has been confirmed killed, according to RSF’s real‐time record.
These developments come as Indian authorities increasingly face criticism for allowing AI-amplified hate to go unchecked. Observers call for robust AI detection, better moderation systems, and stronger policy frameworks to protect Muslims from coordinated digital violence — especially when biased imagery accelerates division and distrust at scale.
Platforms that facilitate generative AI must respond with transparency and accountability, while governments and civil society must enhance media literacy to reduce the influence of synthetic propaganda on vulnerable communities.
