Amman, Nov. 4 (Petra) – The inaugural United Nations-sponsored parliamentary training course, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) through its Parliamentary Engagement Program Office and Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies Unit, in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the Shura Council of the State of Qatar, commenced in Amman on Tuesday.
The two-day course, titled "Legislative and Policy Measures to Prevent and Counter the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies for Terrorism and Violent Extremism," seeks to strengthen the capacity of parliamentarians and legislative staff to draft and review laws regulating artificial intelligence (AI) use, ensuring alignment with international law and human rights, while bolstering parliamentary oversight of governments’ use of such technologies in combating terrorism and violent extremism.
The training is attended by parliamentarians from member states of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, representatives of parliamentary assemblies participating in the UN Counter-Terrorism Coordination Mechanism, and international experts in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The program features dialogue sessions, presentations, and case studies on model laws, privacy and human rights protection, and parliamentary oversight mechanisms for the use of AI in counter-terrorism, to develop balanced legislative principles that enhance security while safeguarding rights.
Senate President Faisal Fayez, who sponsored the opening ceremony, underlined the Senate’s commitment to working with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean to advance international peace and security. He noted that holding this training in Amman carries symbolic significance, as the Assembly was established in the Jordanian capital twenty years ago, and aligns with Jordan’s vision of becoming a regional hub for digital innovation and the ethical use of technology.
Fayez said that artificial intelligence has generated transformative progress across various sectors, including economics, education, health, and scientific research. However, he cautioned that terrorist groups have also exploited these technologies to conduct attacks and spread extremist ideologies, emphasizing the need for robust legislative frameworks and effective oversight to ensure responsible and secure technology use.
Ahmed bin Hamad al-Mohannadi, a member of Qatar’s Shura Council, highlighted that Qatar recognized early the need to establish a legislative and ethical framework for emerging technologies. He stressed the importance of balancing security and freedom, and development and responsibility.
He further noted that combating terrorism in the digital era requires coordinated parliamentary and institutional efforts to ensure technology serves justice and human security.
In a recorded statement, Ambassador Sergio Piazzi, Head of the UN Coordination Mechanism for Parliamentary Assemblies on Counter-Terrorism, expressed appreciation to Jordan and Qatar for their support in making the event successful. He described the training as a key step in global efforts to counter cybercrime and the misuse of technology.
He pointed out that seventy-two countries signed the UN Convention on Cybercrime in Hanoi, Vietnam, last week, describing it as a significant legal instrument to enhance international cooperation against digital crime and cyberterrorism.
Murad Tangiev, Deputy Chief of the UNOCT Program Office on Parliamentary Engagement in Preventing and Countering Terrorism, underscored the importance of raising awareness, reviewing legal frameworks, and building legislative capacity to counter the malicious use of modern technologies in terrorism and extremism.
//Petra// AJ
