International Conference in St. Petersburg Focuses on Preventing Use of AI for Terrorist Purposes

St. Petersburg hosted the international conference “Legislative regulation of measures to counter the use of artificial intelligence and other new technologies for terrorist activities”, attended by MPs from CIS countries and representatives of 22 international organizations, including 13 interparliamentary assemblies from Eurasia, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

The conference was organized by the IPA CIS in cooperation with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Political Issues and International Cooperation, Chair of the Committee of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan on International Affairs, Defense and Security Aigul Kuspan opened the event, noting its continuity with earlier the UNOCT’s and the ICRC’s initiatives.

Participants addressed the threats and humanitarian risks posed by AI, the need to close existing legislative gaps, and the importance of harmonizing legal frameworks to respond to emerging challenges.

Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev delivered a message from Chairperson of the IPA CIS Council, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko, emphasizing the importance of international legal coordination in regulating AI use. She noted that MPs of the IPA CIS are developing model laws to counter terrorist use of new technologies.

Speakers stressed that AI-based disinformation, recruitment, attacks on critical infrastructure, and content for radicalization must be strictly prohibited and punished.

Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Defense and Security Viktor Zavarzin highlighted the need to harmonize national legislation and establish a unified legal space to address new threats.

Representatives of the UNOCT and the ICRC emphasized the dual nature of technological development, which may bring both benefits and risks, underscoring the need for coordinated national and international action.

The discussion also covered oversight, ethical concerns, and the need for international standards that ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

The role of model law-making in advancing regional and global cooperation was recognized as a key element, along with the importance of capacity-building and experience-sharing.

Participants emphasized the relevance of continued international collaboration and agreed to advance joint initiatives involving the IPA CIS, the UNOCT, and the ICRC, including the development of model legal instruments.