21-22 October 2025, Rome, Italy – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), supported by its Centre for Global Studies (CGS), contributed to Cybertech Europe 2025, one of the most prominent international events dedicated to cybersecurity and emerging technologies. Founded in 2014, Cybertech has become a leading global platform for dialogue among institutions, the private sector, and the expert community on issues related to digital security and innovation.

 

In consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) of the UN Security Council, PAM organized a dedicated panel discussion on “AI and Counter-Terrorism”. This initiative forms part of PAM-CGS’s ongoing comprehensive research project on the misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups, developed in partnership with CTED.

 

On this occasion, the Assembly was represented by Hon. Giulio Centemero (Italy), PAM President, and by Mr. Marco Emanuele, PAM-CGS Senior Researcher. The panel was also attended by Ms. Arianna Lepore, Coordinator, Next-Generation Terrorism and Strategic Responses Portfolio, Terrorism Prevention Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC, as well as Ms. Alessia Gualtieri, Senior Legal Officer at the Siracusa Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.

 

The panel was moderated by Mr. Amir Rapaport, Founder of Cybertech, who involved the speakers in a series of questions. President Centemero referred to the extensive research conducted by PAM-CGS in collaboration with the United Nations system, including the Security Council, UNOCT, and UNODC, in addressing the misuse of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups. He emphasized the importance of technological innovation and PAM’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary dialogue for

 

 

sustainable and responsible legislation and governance practices that support innovation. Safeguarding human rights is crucial for PAM, as is the integrity of information ecosystems.

 

Building on these efforts, and within the framework of its current Presidency of the UN Coordination Mechanism for Parliamentary Assemblies on Counter-Terrorism, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) will, in cooperation with UNOCT, organize a Parliamentary Training on AI and Emerging Technologies to Counter Terrorism, to be held on 4–5 November in Amman, with the kind support of the Senate of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

 

Mr. Emanuele underlined the importance of strengthening democratic resilience in the face of emerging terrorist threats, referring to the forthcoming PAM study on the Resilience of Democratic Systems in Relation to the Misuse of AI, ICT, and Other Emerging Technologies. He highlighted the growing challenge of AI-driven disinformation, which affects democracies differently depending on their institutional strength, and reaffirmed that PAM and PAM-CGS operate in the spirit of the UN Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact.

 

Ms. Lepore noted that the rise of generative AI has shifted the challenge from awareness to preparedness, stressing the need for national systems—particularly in terrorism-affected regions—to respond effectively, legally, and ethically. She emphasised that while technology is neutral, human expertise and judgment remain indispensable, calling for concrete action to strengthen legal frameworks and capabilities.

 

Ms. Gualtieri examined the dual use of AI in counter-terrorism, noting its potential to enhance prevention and response, but also its misuse by terrorist groups for propaganda and recruitment. She underlined the importance of governance frameworks that uphold human rights, transparency, and accountability, and referred to a Siracusa Institute project illustrating responsible AI implementation in criminal justice.

 

The 2025 edition of Cybertech Europe gathered policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts for two days of discussions on AI, cybersecurity, quantum security, and critical infrastructure resilience, featuring high-level speakers such as Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State; Ivano Gabrielli, Director of the Italian Postal and Communications Police Service; and Remo Marini, Chief Security Officer of Generali Group.

 

Looking ahead, PAM and PAM-CGS will continue to advance research, dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure that technological innovation supports peace, security, and sustainable development, in line with the United Nations Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact.