As online gaming has boomed since the pandemic, the threat of extremism spreading through these platforms must be addressed by developers, policymakers and the gaming community.
Image Source: Getty
Video games have transformed into vast digital networks connecting billions of people globally. However, this rapid expansion brings with it a worrying reality. Terrorist organisations and extremist groups are gradually leveraging gaming platforms to trap gullible individuals by abusing online gaming platforms and bypassing geographic barriers to engage the youth worldwide.
Globally, online gaming substantially rose following the COVID-19 pandemic. This global distribution highlights widespread appeal and growth across continents, underscoring a robust global gaming culture. India, too, has witnessed explosive growth in the sector, driven by cheap smartphones, low data costs, and social shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Terrorist organisations and extremist groups are gradually leveraging gaming platforms to trap gullible individuals by abusing online gaming platforms and bypassing geographic barriers to engage the youth worldwide.
This article delves into the dark side of the booming digital landscape, exploring how extremist groups are exploiting gaming platforms to spread their influence and radicalise players. It examines the methods these groups use, such as altering in-game content, preying on inexperienced players, and manipulating social features to create closed radical circles within games. It also discusses how these strategies generally mirror online youth-targeting techniques for spreading radical ideologies. Finally, the article offers strategies for game developers to address these issues, contributing to user safety and privacy.
Figure 1: Global Distribution of Gamers by Region (in million)
Source: Priori Data
The Indian gaming sector is projected to grow 20 percent by FY25, reaching an estimated INR 253 billion, highlighting the country’s rapidly expanding gaming landscape. In 2023 alone, India employed approximately 100,000 people, projected to reach 250,000 by 2025. A report by Thornton Bharat and the E-Gaming Federation, Guardians of Safe Play: Ethical Gaming for a Vibrant Bharat, highlights that India has the second-largest user base surpassed only by China, positioning the country as a gaming powerhouse. Mobile game downloads in India climbed to 9.66 billion in 2023, up from 5.2 billion in 2022, with popular games like Ludo King and Free Fire Max contributing to this unprecedented growth.
Figure 2: Comparison of Online Gamers and Market Revenue (US$) in China, India, and the United States
Source: Statista
Terrorist organisations and extremists are increasingly leveraging gaming platforms to recruit and radicalise. A common tactic involves modifying in-game assets—such as character skins, environments, or storylines—to reflect extremist values. As per the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, extremist-modified games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) introduce white nationalist insignia or far-right extremist narratives, creating an environment where players may encounter or even adopt these beliefs passively. Games like Call of Duty have also seen custom mods (modifications) with political or nationalistic overtones by terror groups like the Islamic State, making radical ideologies seem normal through frequent exposure.
Games like Call of Duty have also seen custom mods (modifications) with political or nationalistic overtones by terror groups like the Islamic State, making radical ideologies seem normal through frequent exposure.
These immersive games are effective because they engross players for prolonged periods, creating prospects for extremists to foster communities that covertly brainwash players over time. Additionally, virtual reality (VR) games like VRChat, which allow real-time and personalised interactions, provide extremists with a window to recruit young, vulnerable players by engaging them in modified settings that promote particular ideologies.
Mobilisation and training
Some games serve as training grounds where extremists simulate combat or coordination tactics, using in-game environments to practice attacks or refine strategies. For example, games like Arma 3 and Escape from Tarkov have become virtual training grounds where users can simulate tactical engagements in realistic environments. These games, praised for their high degree of realism, are particularly favoured by groups aiming to inculcate militant mindsets. Extremists use these games to practice tactics and role-playing scenarios from real-world situations.
Financial fraud and cyberbullying
Extremists have also exploited the in-game currency systems and item marketplaces for money laundering and fraudulent transactions. In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, for instance, the weapon skin marketplace has sporadically been used for illegal trades, and in some cases, these items have served as fronts for money laundering activities. Furthermore, terrorist organisations like al Qassam Brigades, Hamas, al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hezbollah target players for cyberfraud, propaganda and training like shooting practice and war. This environment is then used to alienate vulnerable individuals and pull them into extremist groups where they may feel a sense of protection and belonging.
Extremists have also exploited the in-game currency systems and item marketplaces for money laundering and fraudulent transactions.
A key challenge in combating extremism on gaming platforms lies in the volume of content created and shared in these digital environments. Games like Roblox and GTA V provide vast sandbox environments where users can freely modify content, making it difficult for developers to monitor all activities in real-time. Artificial Intelligence-based detection systems are constantly being developed to recognise extremist content. Still, these technologies are limited by the rapid evolution of extremist tactics and privacy and data access limitations.
Moreover, gaming companies often need more dedicated resources to tackle extremism, with some focusing more on in-game monetisation than community safety. Extremist groups exploit this gap, knowing that real-time moderation is often under-resourced or ineffective in detecting covert radicalisation tactics.
Governments and gaming companies are working to address the rising threat of extremism in gaming through various regulatory measures and proactive strategies. In 2021, the United States Department of Homeland Security launched a task force dedicated to collaborating with tech companies to identify and report extremist activities on gaming platforms. India’s 2021 Information Technology Rules mandate that platforms track and report illegal content, including extremism. That said, the vast scale of mobile gaming presents unique enforcement challenges for India. In Europe, the European Union’s (EU) Digital Services Act, passed in 2022, requires online platforms to conduct risk assessments and implement content moderation. Nevertheless, the enforcement of these standards can vary across member states. Meanwhile, Southeast Asian nations like Singapore and Indonesia have begun implementing digital content regulations. Still, these often focus on cybersecurity rather than direct counter-extremism, leaving some regulatory gaps that extremists exploit.
In 2021, the United States Department of Homeland Security launched a task force dedicated to collaborating with tech companies to identify and report extremist activities on gaming platforms.
Building on these government efforts, gaming companies can adopt additional measures to create safer and more resilient gaming communities.
These combined regulatory measures and industry-driven strategies can create a gaming ecosystem that protects players, mitigates extremist influences, and empowers the gaming community to resist the spread of harmful content actively.
providing accessible reporting tools ensures that players can easily report extremist content, fostering a proactive and empowered gaming environment.
Video games have evolved into socially connected platforms, which extremists now exploit to recruit and radicalise players. By leveraging gaming’s immersive environments and anonymity, extremist groups subtly indoctrinate vulnerable individuals worldwide. This threat calls for urgent action across the gaming ecosystem. Developers must strengthen moderation systems, employ AI detection tools, and work with counter-extremism experts. Policymakers should establish regulations to hold platforms accountable while the gaming community remains vigilant and reports suspicious activities.
Preserving gaming as a positive space requires collective vigilance, innovative moderation, and strong anti-exploitation measures. Through close cooperation among companies, governments and safety experts, gaming can remain a safe and engaging environment, free from extremist influence.
Soumya Awasthi is a Fellow with the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
Dr Soumya Awasthi is Fellow, Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation. Her work focuses on the intersection of technology and national ...
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