Launch / Award Event #168 Parliamentary approaches to ICT and UN SC Resolution 1373

Summary

This panel discussion focused on parliamentary approaches to using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in counterterrorism efforts, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1373. Experts from various international organizations and parliamentary bodies shared insights on the challenges and opportunities presented by ICTs and artificial intelligence (AI) in combating terrorism.

The speakers emphasized the critical role of parliamentarians in developing legislation, allocating resources, and providing oversight for counterterrorism measures involving new technologies. They stressed the importance of balancing security needs with human rights protections and adhering to international law. The discussion highlighted how terrorist groups are exploiting AI and other emerging technologies for propaganda, recruitment, and planning attacks, while also noting the potential for these same technologies to enhance threat detection and prevention efforts by authorities.

Key points included the need for technology-neutral legislation, international cooperation, and public-private partnerships in addressing these challenges. Speakers also emphasized the importance of digital literacy and public awareness campaigns to build societal resilience against online radicalization and disinformation. The UN Security Council Resolution 1373 was cited as a foundational document guiding international counterterrorism efforts, with speakers noting the ongoing need to adapt its principles to the evolving technological landscape.

The panel concluded by reiterating the importance of human rights considerations in all counterterrorism measures and the need for continued dialogue and collaboration among parliamentarians, international organizations, and other stakeholders to effectively address the complex challenges posed by terrorist use of ICTs and AI.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– The dual nature of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in counterterrorism – both as tools that can be exploited by terrorists and as valuable resources for preventing/countering terrorism

– The critical role of parliamentarians in developing legislation, allocating resources, and providing oversight related to ICTs and counterterrorism

– The importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 as a foundational document guiding international counterterrorism efforts

– The need to balance security measures with protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms when regulating ICTs

– The value of international cooperation and public-private partnerships in addressing ICT-related terrorism challenges

Overall purpose:

The goal of the discussion was to explore parliamentary approaches to using ICTs in counterterrorism efforts, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1373. Speakers shared insights on challenges, opportunities, and best practices for parliamentarians to consider.

Tone:

The tone was largely formal and informative, with speakers providing expert perspectives in a professional manner. There was an underlying sense of urgency about the topic, but the tone remained measured and analytical throughout. The discussion concluded on a note of ongoing commitment to addressing the complex issues raised.

Speakers

– Murad Tangiev: Chief of the UNOCT program office on Parliamentary Engagement

– David Alamos: Moderator, Chief of the UNOCT program office on Parliamentary Engagement

– Kamil Aydin: Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in the European Parliamentary Assembly

– Ahmed Buckley: Author of the UN Parliamentary Handbook on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373, former diplomat and counterterrorism expert

– Emanuele Loperfido: Vice-Chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, member of the Italian delegation to the OSCEPA

– Abdelouahab Yagoubi: Member of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria, PAM rapporteur on artificial intelligence

– Jennifer Bramlette: Coordinator for Information and Communication Technology of the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate

– Akvile Giniotiene: Head of the Cyber and New Technologies Unit at the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism

Additional speakers:

– Dr. Ahmed Al-Muhannadi: Member of the Shura Council of Qatar (mentioned but did not speak)

– Pedro Roque: Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (mentioned but did not speak)

– Audience member: Badil Badi from Shura Council, Qatar (asked a question at the end)

Parliamentary Approaches to Using Information and Communication Technologies in Counterterrorism Efforts

This panel discussion, held in the context of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), brought together experts from various international organisations and parliamentary bodies to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by information and communication technologies (ICTs) and artificial intelligence (AI) in combating terrorism. The dialogue centred on the role of parliamentarians in developing legislation, allocating resources, and providing oversight for counterterrorism measures involving new technologies.

The Role of Parliaments in Addressing ICT/AI Challenges

Speakers unanimously agreed on the critical role of parliaments in addressing the challenges posed by ICTs and AI in counterterrorism efforts. Parliamentarians are responsible for transposing international commitments, such as those outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1373, into national laws and allocating resources based on credible threat assessments. David Alamos, the moderator and Chief of the UNOCT programme office on Parliamentary Engagement, emphasised the parliamentary role in allocating budgets and conducting oversight of counterterrorism efforts.

Akvile Giniotiene from the UN Office of Counterterrorism highlighted the importance of establishing legal frameworks for law enforcement to use new technologies effectively. She also discussed UNOCT’s capacity-building efforts to support member states in developing these frameworks.

Dual Nature of ICTs and AI in Counterterrorism

A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the dual nature of ICTs and AI in counterterrorism efforts, acknowledging both the potential benefits for authorities and the risks posed by malicious actors exploiting these technologies.

Challenges:

1. Kamil Aydin, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, noted that AI enables sophisticated propaganda and automated recruitment by terrorists.

2. Emanuele Loperfido, Vice-Chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, warned about the risks of deepfakes in spreading disinformation and eroding public trust.

3. Akvile Giniotiene highlighted how terrorists are exploiting cybercrime-as-a-service on the dark web.

Opportunities:

1. Abdelouahab Yagoubi, Member of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria, pointed out that AI and ICTs can enhance threat detection and analysis for authorities.

2. Jennifer Bramlette, from the UN Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate, emphasised the need for digital literacy training to build societal resilience against online threats.

International Cooperation and Public-Private Partnerships

The discussion highlighted the importance of international cooperation and public-private partnerships in addressing the challenges of terrorist use of ICTs. Emanuele Loperfido stressed the significance of public-private partnerships, while Akvile Giniotiene emphasised the need for cross-border cooperation mechanisms.

Abdelouahab Yagoubi highlighted the role of parliamentary assemblies in promoting knowledge sharing, particularly mentioning the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean’s (PAM) work on AI and emerging technologies. David Alamos noted that UN entities provide capacity-building support to member states.

The speakers agreed that no single entity or nation could effectively combat the terrorist use of new technologies in isolation, making international collaboration crucial. They also discussed the importance of a coordination mechanism among parliamentary assemblies to enhance knowledge sharing and cooperation.

Balancing Security and Human Rights

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the need to balance security measures with the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms when regulating ICTs. Emanuele Loperfido particularly emphasised this point, highlighting the ethical considerations that must be taken into account when implementing new technologies in counterterrorism efforts. He also presented the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s resolution on AI and counterterrorism, which addresses these concerns.

This balance is especially crucial given the potential for misuse of counterterrorism measures to infringe on civil liberties. An audience question regarding the broad use of the term “terrorism” and its potential misuse further underscored this concern. The speakers agreed that any legislative or policy frameworks developed must have robust safeguards to protect individual rights while still allowing for effective counterterrorism measures.

Conclusion and Future Directions

David Alamos concluded the discussion by reiterating the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration among parliamentarians, international organisations, and other stakeholders to effectively address the complex challenges posed by terrorist use of ICTs and AI. Key areas for future focus include:

1. Updating and improving the UN Parliamentary Handbook on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 to reflect evolving threats and good practices.

2. Developing more effective legislative frameworks to counter the abuse and misuse of AI and emerging technologies by malicious actors.

3. Enhancing parliamentarians’ understanding of new technologies to enable more informed decision-making and oversight.

4. Establishing clear legal mandates and policy frameworks for law enforcement agencies to use new technologies in investigating and prosecuting terrorist offences.

5. Investing in digital literacy and public awareness campaigns to build societal resilience against online radicalisation and disinformation.

The discussion underscored the ongoing need to adapt international counterterrorism efforts to the rapidly evolving technological landscape while maintaining a steadfast commitment to human rights and the rule of law. It also highlighted the critical role of parliamentarians in shaping these efforts and the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges.

Murad Tangiev: Your Excellency, thank you so much for your insightful speech and for your support. And of course, for the support of the Shura Council of the State of Qatar, for all the work that our program office is doing. Now, it gives me a pleasure to invite here at this stage, the chief of the UNOCT program office on Parliamentary Engagement, Mr. David Alamos. David, please.

David Alamos: Thank you very much, Murat. Good morning, excellencies, honorable participants, esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honor to welcome you all to this important event organized on the margins of the Internet Governance Forum here in the beautiful city of Riyadh. I would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and IGF for hosting and organizing this critical global platform, as well as to each of you for your commitment to addressing one of the of the most pressing challenges of our time, terrorism and its evolving complexities in the digital age. At the outset, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Shura Council of the State of Qatar for its unwavering and continuous support to the UNOCT Program Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism. I also wish to extend my appreciation to all participants joining us today, including representative from parliamentary assemblies, members of national parliaments, governments of member states, international organizations, media, academia, and civil society, both in person and also online. I would also like to convey our gratitude to our expert panel, comprising distinguished representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with whom we have co-organized this event, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate, and the UNOCT Global Program on Cybersecurity and New Technologies, and other international experts on counterterrorism, ICT, and artificial intelligence. Excellencies, terrorism remains a persistent global threat, transcending borders, nationalities, and beliefs. The international community, through robust frameworks, such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, has provided a roadmap for coordinated action. National parliaments are pivotal in this endeavor, serving as the bridge between international obligations and their implementation through effective legislation, oversight, and policies. As we navigate an era of rapid technological advancement, the dual role of information and communication technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, cannot be overstated. These technologies offer unprecedented opportunities. to enhance data analysis, improve threat detection, and bolster predictive capabilities in counterterrorism. Yet, they also present profound challenges as terrorist groups increasingly exploit digital tools for recruitment, fundraising, and the dissemination of propaganda disinformation. The recent UN Summit of the Future underscores the importance of addressing these opportunities and challenges. The Pact for the Future, adopted by the General Assembly in September 2024, highlights the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach. It calls for enhanced engagement with national parliaments while respecting their legislative mandates and promoting collaboration across all sectors of the society. In this context, national parliaments are not just participants, but leaders. By proactively regulating ICT to support counterterrorism strategies, they can ensure that such measures align with UN Security Council Resolution 1373, advance the Sustainable Development Goals, and adhere to principles of inclusivity, human rights, and gender sensitivity. Our today’s event is a great opportunity to foster dialogue and raise awareness about these critical issues. To conclude, let me reaffirm the UN OCT’s unwavering commitment to supporting national parliaments and their efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms. Thank you very much, and I wish you all and us all a productive and insightful session. Thank you very much.

Murad Tangiev: Thank you very much, dear David. Finally, I would like to invite here to connect with us online, Honorable Mr. Kamil Aydin. He is the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in the European Parliamentary Assembly, to make his welcoming remarks today with us. Honorable Kamil, the floor is yours. Thank you.

Kamil Aydin: Thank you, Murat. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you and see you very well. Thank you. Thank you. Dear Excellencies, colleagues, and esteemed participants. Above all, I would like to express that I wholeheartedly wanted to be there with you, but I couldn’t make it as we have been intensively discussing the annual budget for the last 10 days in the Turkish current National Assembly. And I would like to say welcome to everybody participating in this very precious organization. Dear Excellencies, distinguished colleagues and guests, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this launch and award session on Parliamentary Approaches to the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Counterterrorism in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 on the margins of this year’s Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh. The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization devoted to promoting peace and stability across its 57 participating states through cooperative dialogue. In today’s increasingly challenging geopolitical landscape, one of the priorities of the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly has been developing responses to terrorism and violent extremism that are both effective and well-rooted in human rights. Today’s event, co-organized with our partners at the UNOCT, reflects this shared dedication to global efforts against terrorism while emphasizing the critical role of AI and new technologies in shaping modern security strategies. We must stand together against those seeking to undermine our democratic values and threaten our societies through malicious acts. Information and communication technologies have transformed governance and society. but are increasingly exploited by terrorist groups for recruitment, propaganda and coordination. Recent data underscores the urgency of this challenge. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism reported a 32% increase in AI-enabled extremist content between 2020 and 2023, highlighting the growing use of technology in radicalization and propaganda. 90% of all terrorist propaganda is currently disseminated online, and an AI-generated content can significantly enhance the quality and quantity of this. Terrorist organizations such as Daesh, Al-Qaeda, PKK and far-right violent extremist groups are increasingly leveraging AI in their operations, exploiting AI’s capabilities to produce sophisticated propaganda, automate recruitment processes and manipulate social media algorithms to amplify their narratives. These and other threats associated with the potential misuse of AI and new technologies for terrorist purposes, as well as parliamentary approaches to using AI in counter-terrorism, will be the focus of today’s discussion. This complex, multifaceted nexus between AI and countering terrorism has been high on the agenda of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for some time. Now, not least since the adoption of our resolution on AI and the fight against terrorism on the margins of our last annual session in Romania. This resolution recognizes the significant threat to international security posed by the potential misuse of AI by terrorists and violent extremists. And, at the same time, acknowledges the opportunities that lies in the ethical application of AI in countering terrorism. The document represents the culmination of our efforts to be at the forefront in tackling yet another emerging security threat that needs to be addressed cooperatively. Accordingly, two weeks ago, in cooperation with the UNOC, we organized a highly relevant parliamentary policy dialogue on countering the misuse of AI for terrorist purposes in Rome, Italy, engaging 13 parliamentary assemblies from around the world and many renowned experts on this emerging issue. After all, parliamentarians play a critical role in preventing and countering terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism. We act as enablers, shaping national legislation and establishing the mandate of counter-terrorism bodies. We serve as controllers, ensuring that all counter-terrorism measures respect fundamental freedoms. And we bridge diverging views at all levels, facilitating constructive exchanges and ensuring citizens’ participation in state affairs. Against this backdrop, I would like to commend our United Nations partners at the Office on Counter-Terrorism. UNOC has been at the very forefront in engaging parliamentarians in counter-terrorism affairs, and we are deeply grateful to them for their invaluable support and expertise. It was an honor for our assembly to preside for two constructive years over the work of the new coordination mechanism of parliamentary assemblies on countering terrorism, and we are confident that our efforts have strengthened parliamentary engagement in the field. Misuse of AI for terrorist purposes is an urgent and critical issue. And I am deeply grateful for the expertise and insights gathered in Riyadh today. While I regret not being able to join you in person, I am confident that my colleague and Vice Chair Emanuele Porfido will represent the OSCPA’s comprehensive work on this matter effectively. On that note, I wish you all a productive and engaging panel discussion. Thank you and best wishes from the Grand National Assembly in Ankara. Thank you.

Murad Tangiev: Honorable Aden, thank you very much for your kind words and for all your support throughout these two years we had this privilege to work with the OSCPA. And now allow me please to give the floor, not to give the floor, give the moderation role to David Alamos to continue this dialogue. Thank you, David, over to you.

David Alamos: Oh, yeah, okay. Yeah, okay. Good afternoon already to everybody, excellencies and honorable participants. I will have the pleasure to moderate this panel of distinguished experts to address basically the topic of today, how parliaments may approach the use of information and communication technologies in counter-terrorism in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1373. And I will just very briefly say that we will cover basically during the discussion three key questions, okay? Which will be, what are the challenges and opportunities posed by information and communication technologies in preventing and countering terrorism? What is the role of parliamentarian in addressing these challenges? And of course, how can the UN Security Council Resolution 1373? help member states in ensuring that the national content duration measures are holistic, inclusive, human rights compliant, gender sensitive, and effective. So without any further delay, in the sake of time, I will give the floor and present the first of our speakers, which I have the pleasure to introduce Dr. Ahmed Bakley, the author, indeed, of the UN Parliamentary Handbook on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373. And allow me to briefly say that he has joined the Egypt’s diplomatic corps two decades ago. His career has been dedicated to counter-terrorism, including serving as deputy director of the counter-terrorism unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was also a member of the analytical support and sanctions monitoring team, supporting the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on ISIL, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. And his background is impressive. Also, he has a Master of Arts in comparative politics in the Middle East, another one in terrorism and international security. And he is now undertaking a PhD. So Dr. Bakley, please, the floor is yours.

Ahmed Buckley: Thank you very much, David. And I’d like to extend my deep gratitude to the Shura Council of Qatar and UNOCT for having me here. And I don’t think we can say this enough, but thank you also to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously hosting this event in this fabulous venue. When we talk about international cooperation on counter-terrorism, I always like to begin with highlighting two points. The first is that despite all of our definitional differences on what is terrorism, who is a terrorist, or all our haranguing on these definitions, we were still, as an international community, able to make large strides on counter-terrorism cooperation. And the bedrock of that cooperation was… was UN Security Council Resolution 1373 and its descendants. The second point, which is particularly relevant because we’re talking in a parliamentary track, is that none of this international cooperation could have taken place and none of it is sustainable in the future without the active participation of parliamentarians. Parliamentarians are of course the legislators, they are the ones responsible for transposing all of these international commitments into national laws, but they are also the dispensers of resources. They are the ones who make the correct decisions on appropriations and budgetary allocations to face the threats based on credible threat assessments from the security agencies. They are also in the best position as representatives of the electorate to make sure that before any of these laws or measures are enacted, that they are the culmination of a wide-ranging consultative process that takes into account the views of the law enforcement agencies, the private sector, as well as civil society. Finally, of course, they are the bulwark to ensure that all of these measures and laws are commensurate with the Member States’ constitutional and international commitments on human rights, as you mentioned, David. On the threats, and for the sake of time, I won’t delve deep into that. I think they were covered by the Honourable Agne, and maybe Akfili will also talk about the threats, and we’ve heard in other workshops that’s emanating from AI. You mentioned propaganda. There’s also the fear of terrorists using AI to raise funds in the form of scams. If criminal organizations are starting to use AI to raise funds, you can be sure that terrorists will be quickly to follow on their heel. Um, how has the Security Council addressed the issue of the misuse of ICTs? Well, it goes back to, uh, to the mother of all resolutions to 1373, uh, which obliged member states to prevent the collusion of safe neighbors, and in turn, scan large records, terrorist acts, despite the fact that the nation also extends to virtual territory, online platforms, uh, end-to-end encryption, uh, services, uh, and any other virtual space which has been also used to, uh, plan, coordinate, recruit, and raise funds for terrorist, uh, acts. There is Resolution 1624, uh, a few years later, which obliged member states to criminalize the incitement of terrorism and the glorification of terrorism, and it explicitly in that resolution called on member states to take all, um, legal and regulatory measures, uh, to, um, prevent the misuse of ICTs in, uh, creating propaganda for, uh, terrorist organizations. Um, you have, uh, Resolution, uh, uh, 2232 on, on, on, uh, global counterterrorism, uh, cooperation as well, which laid, uh, uh, a map, a roadmap for member states on how to, uh, establish, uh, robust mechanisms and channels, uh, within each member state to gather and disseminate, uh, uh, information across borders and to facilitate, um, you know, the, the, the, the drafting, the, the sending and receiving of mutual, uh, legal assistance, um, requests regarding, uh, ICTs in, in terrorism. And you have Resolution 2341, which talked about… about the critical infrastructure. And while the Security Council did not explicitly in that resolution define what in what critical infrastructure was for each member state, it still was very cognizant that member states, some of them will, will consider the internet as a critical infrastructure. And the council called on UN entities to help member states, whether in through capacity building or technical assistance to take the appropriate measures to protect the internet from being misused by terrorists. I say I give these examples, again, to make two points that the Security Council was from the very beginning, aware of the misuse of ICTs and gave it is it’s, it’s due attention, but also that most of these resolutions have been drafted in a technology neutral language. And in fact, member states are also encouraged when they develop their legislation to do so in this technology neutral language, which focuses on criminalizing the crime, not necessarily on the tool by which that crime was committed. In fact, I think it is safe to say that when we’re talking about the threats from artificial intelligence, most countries do not require a substantial overhaul of their, of their legal frameworks. But what they need to do is concertedly address, you know, raising the capacity of law enforcement agencies to detect and prevent and prosecute these crimes when they are being committed by artificial intelligence tools. You mentioned the handbook. Thank you very much for bringing it up. It was a privilege working on it. And the handbook I think is a very useful tool. Hashtag shameless self promotion here. I shouldn’t be praising my own product. But I think it is a it is a useful tool. Because on one hand, it provides a very good overview for parliamentarians on all of these on this oeuvre of the Security Council resolutions regarding counterterrorism. And it also gives them a sort of checklist, what they need to check to gauge their, their level of implementation. Of course, it’s not the definitive guide to for gap analysis for member states. The the that is still the preserve of CTAD’s technical guide on implementing resolution 1373. But the handbook is a useful reference for some of these checklists and also for additional resources when member states are making proper legislation. It also covers some parallel legislative concerns that that complement counterterrorism legislation. So many member states are now undergoing legislation on personal data protection on cyber security. And you will find in the handbook, some, some concerns, some aspects to take into consideration when you are legislating and taking measures against those types of threats. Now, I don’t think that the handbook is complete. I think it should be a living document. You know, it should take into consideration some of the good practices that parliaments have done already in this regard, and that’s just a heavy hint, David, to say that we still need to work together on improving the handbook as much as we can, and with that I’ll hand it back to you. Thank you very much.

David Alamos: Thank you very much, Dr. Ahmed, for your insightful and comprehensive presentation. I have to say it was also a really big honor for us to work with you in the elaboration of the handbook. This is the handbook, with Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al-Muhannadi. So it is also available online, in case that anyone wants to check our web page and get it from there. So it is now my pleasure to introduce the next speaker, the Vice-Chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Honorable Mr. Emanuele Loperfido, and let me just say that Honorable Loperfido is a member of the Italian delegation to the OSCEPA and the principal sponsor of the 2024 OSCEPA Resolution on Artificial Intelligence and the Fight Against Terrorism. He currently serves as Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, and he is also an active member of the Defense Committee. And today, Honorable Loperfido will speak about the OSCEPA Resolution, a very important resolution indeed. For all of us, please, Honorable Loperfido, you have the floor.

Emanuele Loperfido: Good morning. Thank you, David. Thank you for the kind introduction. Thank you for all of you that are here to listen to us. Thank you to the OSCEPA staff members that are working all this year together with us to support the parliamentarian to try to give response to this a new challenge that we are facing as parliamentarian. And it is very important the work that the United Nations Organization, Office of Counterterrorism and the OCPA is doing together because the most important thing is to make a real partnership to face the challenges. So I’m delighted to be here and contribute to this distinguished panel. My capacity as a vice chair of the OC Parliamentary and Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee on Counterterrorism and speaking directly about the artificial intelligence, we know that it has brought significant advantages across various sectors and hold promising potential for the use of authorities in the fight against terrorism. But at the same time, the same technology when exploited by malicious actor poses a significant risk to international security. As AI capabilities evolve, so does the potential for them to be used in ways that threaten peace and stability. For example, widely available AI-driven tools could enable individuals or groups to assess technologies such as drones that could be misused for surveillance, targeted attacks, or other malicious purposes. Another area of concern is potential for extremists to harness AI algorithms to identify and target vulnerable individuals, tailoring messaging to exploit fears and biases. These prospects underscore the importance of vigilance as AI could inadvertently aid in amplifying extremist narratives and online radicalization. Particularly troubling dimension is the rise of deepfake technologies. We must consider how the ability… to create convincing but fabricated audio and video content could be leveraged by terrorist groups to spread disinformation, incite violence, or erode public trust, which will have far-reaching impacts on social cohesion and national security if left unaddressed. This is why, over the past year, the OCPA and the ADOC committee have made significant strides in response to these ever-evolving challenges. As the world’s largest inter-parliamentarian forum dedicated to peace and security, our assembly worked hard to promote more knowledge around this topic in order to inform national and international policymaking. In February, we had a high-level panel discussion in Vienna, bringing together experts from the tech industry and the public sector. These pressing issues were further examined with renowned academics during the official visit to Turkey in early May, and it was organized by our dear President Kamil Aydin, that I would like to thank for the continued effort to support the assembly in becoming more and more expert in counterterrorism. And at the end, we had a last but not least, obviously, conference in Portugal. And during the annual session in Bucharest, our committee, together with the OCPA, adopt the Bucharest Resolution on Artificial Intelligence and the Fight Against Terrorism, which codified some key findings and which represent one of the very first policy attempt to address the dual security impact of the rapid advancement of the artificial intelligence. So the resolution clearly focused on mitigating the risk of the AI misuse in the focus on the strengthened national legal frameworks that govern AI development and deployment, ensuring robust and ethical standards and human oversight. While AI can be a powerful tool in detecting threats and preventing radicalization, its use must always be balanced with respect for privacy and freedom of expression. This dual approach not only strengthen public trust, but it also ensure that AI innovation remains aligned with our shared values of democracy and security. Italy, for instance, has recently underlined the importance of ethics in AI governance by appointing a theologian, an AI expert, a member of the United Nation Committee to lead national AI coordination. This choice reflect a broader commitment to ensure that AI technology are developed and applied with respect for human dignity and rights. The resolution that we adopted went beyond that. Indeed, it emphasized how these tools can also be used by a security agency to quickly identify potential threats, preventing attack and supporting early radicalization pattern. Additionally, our document is stressed the importance of a public and private partnership and the importance of strengthen international cooperation. Lastly. The resolution highlighted the critical role of the education and the importance of having a digital literacy in order to create and improve the public awareness campaign in order to help societies to recognize and resist disinformation and manipulation. Ultimately, through this resolution, we aim to foster an environment where AI is secure, ethical and aligned with democratic principles while remaining economically viable. Hopefully, other national parliaments and other international parliamentaries will follow our example, as we did in Rome, the last event, where together with the UNOCT and the inter-parliamentary policy, we address our effort to reinforce the cooperation, the mechanisms of cooperation together with the members of the parliament, together with the parliamentarians in order to create legislation that is international, respecting the rights that I just said, but in order to secure to the people that are living in our world, to have a secure world. So our effort will continue together with the members of the OCPA, together with UNOCT and together with all the parliamentarians that will support our effort against this challenge.

Murad Tangiev:

David Alamos: Thank you very much, Your Honourable Loperfido, for a highly topical and informative presentation. I would like to also express my gratitude to you, to Honourable Camille Aydin, online and to the Parliamentary Assembly. of OSCE for the continuous support, collaboration with our Parliamentary Engagement Office and especially for this last excellent two years of Presidency of the Coordination Mechanism of Parliamentary Assemblies. Now I would like to give the floor to our next speaker, a representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, PAM, member of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria, Honourable Mr. Abdullohab Jacobi. He is elected in Paris, indeed, at the Algerian National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Cooperation and Immigration Committee. Honourable Jacobi is a member of the Algerian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean since 2021 and an expert on AI and ICT. He has a large experience in private sector and international companies and at present he holds the function of PAM rapporteur on artificial intelligence. Please, Mr. Honourable Jacobi, you have the floor.

Abdelouahab Yagoubi : Thank you very much, dear David. Good afternoon, everybody. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, leaders and gentlemen, on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, I wish to thank the UNOCT, OSCE, PIA and the Shura Council of Qatar for organising this side event. I am especially pleased to gather here today following the election of PAM to the Presidency of the Coordination Mechanism of the Parliamentary Assembly on Counter-terrorism which took place two weeks ago in Rome. In this regard, I wish to strongly reiterate that PAM will work with all international parliamentary assemblies to fulfil its mandate and advance towards a future free of terrorism for the generations to come. The highly development and expansion of AI and emerging technologies made imperative for parliaments to pay attention to and develop more effective legislative frameworks and strategies to counter their abuse and misuse. As it was predictable, the accessibility, low cost and efficiency provided by AI and emerging technologies have allowed malicious actors, including but not limited to, terrorist and criminal organisations to exploit them for their purpose. In response to these threats and in compliance with the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 1373, a concreted and united international approach is critical to address the challenge but all the opportunities to AI and emerging technologies in preventing and countering terrorism. This coordinated approach must take into consideration the centrality of national and regional parliaments to advance relevant and dedicated legislations. Moreover, it is always worth highlighting that any framework adopted by States to combat the misuse of IAEA and emerging technologies must be compliant with international human rights law and the respect of fundamental freedom of individuals, which are equally applicable online as offline. Fully aware of this complex landscape, PAM, with the support of its Center of Global Studies – CGS – and in partnership with the UN Security Council Counterterrorism Executive Directorate – CITED – recently published a report on the malicious use of AI and emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups’ impact on security, legislation, and governance. Among other elements, the report also stressed that AI and emerging technologies play a provided role in the fight against terrorism and organized crime. This also includes the automatic analysis of vast amounts of data patterns and trends associated with the malicious use of technological tools, which enable authorities to rapidly identify the most effective approaches and strategies. As a result of its report, PAM established a permanent global parliamentary observatory on AI and ICT. We’ve assembled by PAMCGS and begun the publication of a daily and weekly digest to disseminate news and analysis about trends related to technological advancement in a number of fields, including security and defense. I invite you to reach out to PAMCGS in order to strengthen our collaboration, multiplying the effectiveness of our work. Thank you for your attention.

David Alamos: Thank you very much, Honorable Jacobi, for your precise intervention. I would also like to express my gratitude to you and also to Honorable and Excellency Pedro Roque, Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, who is accompanying us also here for your constant support and also for being now – we are very grateful for that – the new elected President and Chair of the Coordination Mechanism for Parliamentary Assemblies. Let me now turn to my dear colleague of the UN and friend, Ms. Jennifer Bramlett. Just to let you know also that Ms. Bramlett serves as the Coordinator for Information and Communication Technology of the United Nations Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate. In this role, she focuses on issues relating to preventing and countering the use of ICT and related new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. Ms. Bramlett has also served as the Strategic Advisor to CTED’s Executive Director, CTED Legal Officer, and as the Program Manager. and Senior Advisor of UNODC’s Global Program against Money Laundering, Proceeds of Crime, and the Financing of Terrorism. And she has a really large experience also before even the UN in the US Department of Defense. So please, Ms. Bramblitt, you have the floor.

Jennifer Bramlette: Thank you, David. And good morning or good afternoon to everybody. I just want to start off by saying how delighted I was and seated was when a UN OCT said that they were going to put this parliamentarian handbook together on Resolution 1373. The main reason is that Resolution 1373 is a groundbreaking, forward-thinking, essential document for all of the work that the UN Security Council and other partner agencies around are doing on counterterrorism. It set the groundwork for everything that has come since. There have been a number of Security Council resolutions on counterterrorism, 16 of which deal with the issue of information and communication technologies. Resolution 1373 set the groundwork by initiating a requirement for states to share operational communications information. Now, it seems like a pretty small mandate. But that set operational interactivity between law enforcement agencies, border control agencies, between aspects of government that had never traditionally worked together, usually operational information was held on the security side of the house. And all of a sudden, now you had Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministries of Education starting to work together. And so Resolution 1373 was essential as a starting point for all of the work that we’re doing today. and what we’re talking about today. Now my office is a special political mission that supports the United Nations Security Council’s Counterterrorism Committee. For them, we conduct assessments of member states’ capacity to counterterrorism in accordance with Security Council resolutions, and particularly Resolution 1373. We also have a mandate to identify gaps in implementation and to facilitate technical assistance so that member states can better implement these resolutions. We also have mandate to look at emerging threats, evolving trends, and to keep an eye on what’s happening in the world so that, again, we can better assist member states to implement Security Council resolutions. I was so delighted with this handbook because Resolution 1373 is our bread and butter. This is where we first started. And when we first started working with this resolution, we broke things down into looking at legal frameworks, because this is where the resolution sets the groundwork for looking at legal frameworks and how states actually can criminalize terrorist acts with the end state the goal of bringing terrorists to justice. And Resolution 1373 lays out all of these various components, these activities that states need to do in order to be able to bring terrorists to justice. The resolution doesn’t tell states how to do it. It just says that you must prevent terrorism financing. You must prevent terrorism arming. You must prevent the safe havening of terrorist groups. It doesn’t say how. This is where the regular dialogue with member states, where the activities of capacity building and technical assistance come into state is to help member states accomplish these goals. My office is looking not only now at legal frameworks, but also at institutions and how institutions are mandated and how they coordinate, cooperate, and share information, including operational information, again, going back to Resolution 1373. And we’re also looking at how the practical measures they’re taking are effective or not, looking at good practice, and again, looking at shortfalls. When it comes to ICT, I think that Buckley made an excellent point in how we think about about terrorist use of the internet, social media platforms, alternative online spaces, new technologies like AI, like virtual and augmented reality, even looking forward into quantum computing. And we have to think about it differently because when we think about terrorism we often think about bombs and buildings, we think about people being injured, we think about real-life harms, and yet there’s this whole other world, whether you call it the cybersphere, the digital world, online spaces, where terrorism happens. And we were asked actually, why are terrorism bodies here at the IGF? Well, we made a point earlier in an intervention on misinformation that the way misinformation is being written and propagated online is very similar to how terrorists are using online spaces to move their messaging, their propaganda, to coordinate and operate. How misinformation and harmful content is housed online is very similar to how terrorist material is housed online. And so we have to have this open mindset that the cybersphere, these online spaces, are operational spaces for terrorist organizations and that everything that’s being discussed here at the IGF is relevant to countering terrorism. Everything being talked about with regard to misinformation and the way societies need to be able to be inoculated against misinformation and disinformation and also terrorist propaganda are all similar. So in our work, our assessment work, some of the challenges we’ve seen are many, and I won’t go into all of them, but I would say that where we’ve seen great success is in states investing in digital and AI literacy training to build resilience in their populations. And this is from children all the way through to elders to teach them how the internet works, how social media works, and how they can interpret the information they see so they can determine for themselves if it’s true or not and if it’s something they should believe. So this investment into AI and digital literacy training is very important. Also efforts to work with the tech industry on safety by design and on issues around good programming and the tech aspects to ensure that material going into the internet and the spaces on the internet are safe and monitored and workable for all cultures and all societies. I would reiterate the points made on human rights, that human rights cannot be sacrificed in any way. I know many states claim that it’s difficult to balance security and human rights. But I would say that human rights are as applicable online as they are offline, and they cannot be compromised. And so there must be a way to have justice in all aspects of life for users and for states. And that’s a conversation that must continue with the outcome of privacy, data protection, freedom of expression, and all of the other fundamental freedoms that we have come to enjoy and need to maintain. Thank you very much. I’ll stop there.

David Alamos: Thank you very much, dear Jennifer, for your insights, observations, and recommendations as always very relevant, highly relevant and valuable, and really appreciate the collaboration with CTED. That’s very, really important for us of this common approach to member states. And I would like now to give the floor to our final speaker, who is our dear colleague from UNOCT, Mrs. Akhil Jinyo-Thien. You have full time, because we have been given extra time. It’s like a football match, so we have some extra minutes. So please, you can have your five to seven minutes completely. But let me first say that Mrs. Akvile Giniotiene is the head of the Cyber and New Technologies Unit at the United Nations Office of Counterterrorism. Prior to joining the United Nations, she had served for 25 years in different capacities for the government of the Republic of Lithuania, including as the Deputy Director of the State Security Department, Deputy Chair of the National Security Authority, and in private sector, where she has been an active participant of international cybersecurity dialogue and capacity building initiative and assisted governments in the development of national cybersecurity strategies and critical information infrastructure protection frameworks. Dear Akhil, thank you very much. You have the floor, please. Thank you, David.

Akvile Giniotiene: And good afternoon to all. It’s really a pleasure to be here and be engaged in the discussion of parliamentary approaches to the terrorist use of ICT. I come from a little not a legal background, but from more operational background. And the program is a capacity building tool to support member states to develop necessary capacities to respond both to the challenges and opportunities that new technologies provide in countering terrorists. And in our work, we are helping member states to understand the threat stemming from terrorist use of new technologies, what are the opportunities, and also build necessary capacities, like protect critical infrastructures against terrorist cyber attacks, develop necessary law enforcement capacities to use. new technologies for investigation of terrorist offenses, also develop policy frameworks that are necessary to ensure the strategic and whole of the government approach to new technologies in countering terrorism. And of course, from my capacity building work, I can say that such capacities cannot be built in vacuum. So there should be legal mandates in place for law enforcement to do things online, to use information collecting using new technologies for investigation and prosecution. There should be policies in place as well. And I had a pleasure also to participate two weeks ago in a parliamentary assembly dialogue in Rome. And I was really, really impressed of the amount of thought given by parliamentarians on how to go about it. And at least my takeaway from all the discussions there were that to regulate, legislate and deliver proper oversight of new technologies in countering terrorist domain, first, you need to understand what is the threat, how malicious actors can abuse new technologies for countering terrorism and what are the opportunities there for law enforcement and wider communities to use new technologies in this regard. And I’m happy that a program in a little bit of a way supports member states in this regard. So three years ago, we published a report on the use of artificial intelligence by terrorist organizations, outlining different areas how terrorists can use artificial intelligence in future. So be it as cyber enabled attacks, be it physical attacks using self-driving cars or drones equipped with facial recognition technology to identify particular targets in the crowds or enhancing their operational capability to count a few documents and spread misinformation. information. It was a little bit futuristic at that time because generative AI was not there, but two years passed and generative AI hit the floor, and we see some of the scenarios already becoming a reality of today that parliamentarians are trying to address today. Also, one of the most recent report that is also available online is regarding terrorist use of cybercrime as a service on dark web, how cybercrime as a service is available, to be procured at a very cheap price, and could cause massive effects against critical infrastructure or help them to raise money. And in terms of capacity building, we are engaging with member states to help them develop understanding of the threats and risks at national level in a structured manner, inviting all relevant parties to prioritize the risks, which can become a national risk, be it use of deepfakes, be it artificial intelligence, and how to address them through policy responses, how to prevent those scenarios from happening, how to deny them from happening, how to protect and recover once they happen, and how to prosecute through policy approaches. In our capacity building work, I would say it’s always very good to have parliamentarians in these discussions. It’s not always happening, but in those cases that we had, the representatives from the, let’s say, committees on national security and defense or committees of new technologies, it was a very good discussion, bringing all relevant parties together. So when it comes to opportunities of new technologies, the program is mostly focusing on building law enforcement capacities. So we help law enforcement to embrace open source intelligence, how to conduct investigations online. how to conduct dark web investigations, how to use facial recognition, how to use digital forensic techniques, how to run cryptocurrencies investigations, how to seize cryptocurrencies, which is also a very difficult thing to do, and how drones can support counter-terrorist efforts. And in all these regards, to wrap it up, it’s very important that their legal aspects are addressed. So first of all, the use of new technology shall be based on clear provisions of law by counter-terrorist agencies to ensure the principles of rule of law and adherence to international law. Because if law enforcement agencies do not have a mandate to use those new technologies, it will not lead to prosecution and adjudication of terrorist offenses, which is the end goal of any counter-terrorist agencies to reduce the number of threat actors that we need to deal. Second, and it was also, I’m repeating other experts on the panel, that any measures impacting or restricting human rights must be established by law, necessary and proportionate. Also, I think it’s very important that the law establishes legal powers for review and redress, which are independent from law enforcement agencies. So if there’s a concern that law enforcement agencies are not using the powers, the new technologies properly, so there are mechanisms to raise that and to resolve through necessary mechanisms. Also, we are using the increased use of advanced data collection, which is a very efficient way for law enforcement to address counter-terrorism and use of CCTV and big data, but they also should be governed to… to prevent excessive information collection. And of course, as Jennifer mentioned, prohibition of act of terrorist, because that’s how law enforcement have powers to investigate. So it’s very important that these new and evolving crimes are addressed in criminal laws. And they give a mandate to law enforcement to do those. And legal arrangement to support cross-border cooperation is also very, very important because terrorists has no borders, technologies have no borders, data is everywhere. So parliamentarians have a very important role to play and then increasingly making efforts in this regard, which is appreciated by law enforcement and counter-terrorist community. So thank you again for inviting me to be in this panel and thank you very much.

David Alamos: Thank you. Thank you very much, Dr. Actil, for your presentation. And let me highlight important work that you and your unit is doing in serving and supporting member states on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and ICT in the prevention and countering of terrorism. We have just two more minutes, okay, because we will need to close because there is a new session at 1.15. But if there is any comment or question that would like to be raised, please, just in 30 seconds, I would be very grateful.

Audience: Thank you, Badil Badi from Shura Council, Qatar. I thank everybody here. Unfortunately, the law enforcement used the word of terrorism in many aspects a long time ago. So if you want to put someone in trouble, just tell them, use the word, and that’s enough to put them into much troubles. And if you also support them with legal action, we are afraid to go deeper. So that’s one point. And hopefully, we can understand and defend. of the terrorist or terrorism or whatever, the, you know, the word is just wide used for everybody and everybody just misuse it. And, you know, but the terrorism, as Dr. Ahmed said in the beginning, it means a lot and it means not only, but it means other, many other things. And we’ve seen it in hackers or whatever. It’s all, it’s terrorist. So thank you.

David Alamos: Thank you very much, Excellency. So if there is any other further question, I would suggest that, yeah, I know. I would suggest that after the event, please do reach out to our distinguished panelists. I would like to conclude by just saying that we still have a lot of challenges. We will, we need to keep on working on strengthening the legal frameworks, especially we need to, we have a UN Security Council Resolution 1373 as a guiding document also for that that has to be taken into consideration as a mandatory resolution from the Security Council. And let me just say, highlight the important role of parliamentarians, not only in developing legislation, but also, yes, it has been said in allocating budgets, in conducting the oversight functions, and especially also for all of us, has been reiterated in many occasion, but I would like to conclude with that, importance of having human rights at the forefront of all our dialogues and decision in these key matters. Let me conclude by thanking all of the distinguished panelists and experts that have been accompanying us during today’s session, and to all of you also for having been with us and participating in this session. Thank you very much.

Agreement Points

Importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1373

speakers

Ahmed Buckley

Jennifer Bramlette

David Alamos

arguments

UN Security Council Resolution 1373 as foundational framework for international counterterrorism cooperation

Resolution 1373 requires operational information sharing between agencies

Resolution 1373 provides guidance on legal frameworks to criminalize terrorist acts

Resolution 1373 needs to be implemented through national legislation by parliaments

summary

Multiple speakers emphasized the crucial role of Resolution 1373 in providing a framework for international cooperation, information sharing, and legal guidance in counterterrorism efforts.

Challenges posed by AI and ICTs in terrorism

speakers

Kamil Aydin

Emanuele Loperfido

Abdelouahab Yagoubi

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

AI enables sophisticated propaganda and automated recruitment by terrorists

Deepfakes pose risks of disinformation and eroding public trust

Terrorists exploiting cybercrime-as-a-service on the dark web

summary

Several speakers highlighted the various ways terrorists are exploiting AI and ICTs, including for propaganda, recruitment, and cybercrime.

Role of parliaments in addressing ICT/AI challenges

speakers

Ahmed Buckley

Emanuele Loperfido

David Alamos

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

Responsible for transposing international commitments into national laws

Need to balance security measures with human rights protections

Allocating budgets and conducting oversight of counterterrorism efforts

Establishing legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies

summary

Multiple speakers emphasized the critical role of parliaments in legislating, overseeing, and balancing security needs with human rights in the context of ICT/AI use in counterterrorism.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of building capacity, whether through public education or legal frameworks, to address the challenges posed by new technologies in counterterrorism efforts.

speakers

Jennifer Bramlette

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

Need for digital literacy training to build societal resilience

Establishing legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies

Both speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing between different sectors and entities in addressing the challenges of AI and ICTs in counterterrorism.

speakers

Emanuele Loperfido

Abdelouahab Yagoubi

arguments

Importance of public-private partnerships

Role of parliamentary assemblies in promoting knowledge sharing

Unexpected Consensus

Dual nature of AI and ICTs in counterterrorism

speakers

Emanuele Loperfido

Abdelouahab Yagoubi

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

Need to balance security measures with human rights protections

AI and ICTs can enhance threat detection and analysis for authorities

Establishing legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies

explanation

There was an unexpected consensus among speakers from different backgrounds on the dual nature of AI and ICTs in counterterrorism – recognizing both their potential benefits for authorities and the need for careful regulation to protect human rights.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The speakers generally agreed on the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1373, the challenges posed by AI and ICTs in terrorism, and the crucial role of parliaments in addressing these challenges. There was also consensus on the need for capacity building, collaboration, and balancing security measures with human rights protections.

Consensus level

High level of consensus among speakers, suggesting a shared understanding of the complex issues surrounding ICT/AI use in counterterrorism. This consensus implies potential for coordinated international action, but also highlights the need for careful consideration of human rights and legal frameworks in implementing new technologies and strategies.

Different Viewpoints

Approach to regulating AI and ICTs in counterterrorism

speakers

Emanuele Loperfido

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

Need to balance security measures with human rights protections

Establishing legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies

summary

While Loperfido emphasizes the need to balance security measures with human rights protections, Giniotiene focuses more on establishing clear legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies in counterterrorism efforts.

Unexpected Differences

Overall Assessment

summary

The main areas of disagreement revolve around the balance between security measures and human rights protections, as well as the specific approaches to addressing the challenges posed by AI and ICTs in counterterrorism.

difference_level

The level of disagreement among the speakers appears to be relatively low. Most speakers agree on the importance of addressing the challenges posed by AI and ICTs in counterterrorism, but they propose slightly different approaches or emphasize different aspects. This level of disagreement is not likely to significantly impede progress on the topic, but rather suggests a need for a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that incorporates various perspectives.

Partial Agreements

Both speakers agree on the need to address the challenges posed by new technologies in counterterrorism, but they propose different approaches. Bramlette emphasizes digital literacy training for the public, while Giniotiene focuses on legal mandates for law enforcement.

speakers

Jennifer Bramlette

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

Need for digital literacy training to build societal resilience

Establishing legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of building capacity, whether through public education or legal frameworks, to address the challenges posed by new technologies in counterterrorism efforts.

speakers

Jennifer Bramlette

Akvile Giniotiene

arguments

Need for digital literacy training to build societal resilience

Establishing legal mandates for law enforcement to use new technologies

Both speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing between different sectors and entities in addressing the challenges of AI and ICTs in counterterrorism.

speakers

Emanuele Loperfido

Abdelouahab Yagoubi

arguments

Importance of public-private partnerships

Role of parliamentary assemblies in promoting knowledge sharing

Key Takeaways

UN Security Council Resolution 1373 remains a foundational framework for international counterterrorism cooperation, especially regarding ICTs

AI and new technologies present both significant challenges (e.g. sophisticated propaganda, deepfakes) and opportunities (e.g. enhanced threat detection) for counterterrorism efforts

Parliaments play a crucial role in addressing ICT/AI challenges in counterterrorism through legislation, budget allocation, and oversight

International cooperation, including public-private partnerships and cross-border mechanisms, is essential for countering terrorist use of ICTs

Human rights protections must be balanced with security measures when developing counterterrorism strategies involving ICTs/AI

Resolutions and Action Items

Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean elected to Presidency of the Coordination Mechanism of Parliamentary Assemblies on Counter-terrorism

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted the Bucharest Resolution on Artificial Intelligence and the Fight Against Terrorism

PAM established a permanent global parliamentary observatory on AI and ICT

Unresolved Issues

How to effectively balance security measures with human rights protections in the digital sphere

Addressing the potential misuse of the term ‘terrorism’ in law enforcement and legislation

Developing comprehensive legal frameworks to govern the use of new technologies in counterterrorism efforts

Suggested Compromises

Adopting technology-neutral language in legislation to focus on criminalizing actions rather than specific tools

Investing in digital and AI literacy training to build societal resilience against online threats and misinformation

Establishing independent review and redress mechanisms for the use of new technologies by law enforcement agencies

Despite all of our definitional differences on what is terrorism, who is a terrorist, or all our haranguing on these definitions, we were still, as an international community, able to make large strides on counter-terrorism cooperation. And the bedrock of that cooperation was UN Security Council Resolution 1373 and its descendants.

speaker

Dr. Ahmed Buckley

reason

This comment highlights the importance of international cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, despite definitional challenges. It sets the tone for discussing practical approaches rather than getting bogged down in semantic debates.

impact

It framed the subsequent discussion around concrete actions and cooperation, rather than theoretical debates about definitions. This allowed for a more productive conversation focused on implementation and parliamentary roles.

Parliamentarians are of course the legislators, they are the ones responsible for transposing all of these international commitments into national laws, but they are also the dispensers of resources. They are the ones who make the correct decisions on appropriations and budgetary allocations to face the threats based on credible threat assessments from the security agencies.

speaker

Dr. Ahmed Buckley

reason

This comment succinctly outlines the crucial role of parliamentarians in counter-terrorism efforts, highlighting both their legislative and budgetary responsibilities.

impact

It shifted the focus of the discussion to the specific roles and responsibilities of parliamentarians, leading to more detailed explorations of how they can contribute to counter-terrorism efforts in practical ways.

As AI capabilities evolve, so does the potential for them to be used in ways that threaten peace and stability. For example, widely available AI-driven tools could enable individuals or groups to assess technologies such as drones that could be misused for surveillance, targeted attacks, or other malicious purposes.

speaker

Honorable Emanuele Loperfido

reason

This comment introduces the dual-use nature of AI technologies and their potential misuse by malicious actors, highlighting a key challenge in the intersection of technology and security.

impact

It sparked a more nuanced discussion about the challenges of regulating and governing AI technologies in the context of counter-terrorism, leading to considerations of balancing security needs with ethical concerns and human rights.

Resolution 1373 set the groundwork by initiating a requirement for states to share operational communications information. Now, it seems like a pretty small mandate. But that set operational interactivity between law enforcement agencies, border control agencies, between aspects of government that had never traditionally worked together, usually operational information was held on the security side of the house.

speaker

Jennifer Bramlette

reason

This comment provides historical context and highlights the transformative impact of Resolution 1373 on inter-agency cooperation, which is crucial for effective counter-terrorism efforts.

impact

It deepened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of information sharing and inter-agency cooperation, leading to further exploration of how to enhance these aspects in the context of new technologies.

To regulate, legislate and deliver proper oversight of new technologies in countering terrorist domain, first, you need to understand what is the threat, how malicious actors can abuse new technologies for countering terrorism and what are the opportunities there for law enforcement and wider communities to use new technologies in this regard.

speaker

Akvile Giniotiene

reason

This comment emphasizes the importance of understanding both the threats and opportunities presented by new technologies before attempting to regulate them, highlighting the need for informed policymaking.

impact

It shifted the discussion towards the importance of technological literacy among policymakers and the need for ongoing education and collaboration between tech experts and legislators.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by emphasizing the importance of international cooperation, the crucial role of parliamentarians, the dual-use nature of AI technologies, the need for inter-agency information sharing, and the importance of understanding both threats and opportunities before legislating. The discussion evolved from broad principles of counter-terrorism to specific challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies, with a consistent focus on the role of parliamentarians in navigating these complex issues. The comments collectively highlighted the need for a multifaceted approach that balances security concerns with ethical considerations and human rights, while also emphasizing the importance of technological literacy among policymakers.

How can the UN Parliamentary Handbook on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373 be improved and updated?

speaker

Dr. Ahmed Buckley

explanation

The handbook should be a living document that incorporates good practices from parliaments and evolves with new developments

How can parliaments develop more effective legislative frameworks and strategies to counter the abuse and misuse of AI and emerging technologies?

speaker

Honorable Abdelouahab Yagoubi

explanation

This is crucial for addressing the evolving threats posed by malicious actors using new technologies

How can states effectively balance security needs with human rights protections when implementing counter-terrorism measures using new technologies?

speaker

Jennifer Bramlette

explanation

This balance is essential to ensure that counter-terrorism efforts do not compromise fundamental freedoms

What legal mandates and policy frameworks are needed to enable law enforcement to effectively use new technologies for investigating and prosecuting terrorist offenses?

speaker

Akvile Giniotiene

explanation

Clear legal and policy foundations are necessary for law enforcement to leverage new technologies while adhering to the rule of law

How can parliamentarians improve their understanding of the threats and opportunities presented by new technologies in the counter-terrorism domain?

speaker

Akvile Giniotiene

explanation

A deeper understanding is crucial for effective legislation and oversight of counter-terrorism efforts involving new technologies