Centre for Global Studies - PAM

On 11 February 2025, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful message at the #AI Action Summit in Paris, stressing that the world is not yet prepared for the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence. While AI is reshaping industries and driving breakthroughs in sectors like healthcare and education, Guterres warned that its rapid development raises critical questions about equity, governance, and global collaboration. He highlighted the growing concentration of AI capabilities in a few countries and companies, which risks deepening geopolitical divides. Guterres called for a unified approach to ensure that AI benefits all nations, especially developing ones, by fostering sustainable digital infrastructure, training local talent, and empowering countries to actively participate in the AI revolution. PAM, supported by its Centre for Global Studies - PAM (CGS), remains committed to fostering responsible innovation in Artificial Intelligence, ensuring its beneficial use for all members of society. On 28 November 2024, PAM-CGS, in partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), published a comprehensive live-report entitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance.” The report underwent a rigorous peer review process involving contributions from the UN system, alongside strategic partners and leading think tanks, such as Amazon, INTERPOL, Media Duemila, NATO, The Policy Center for the New South, and the Global Research Network (GRN) of UN CTED. The report sets essential guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI, emphasizing robust frameworks for security, governance, and legislative measures to counter the malicious exploitation of emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups. #AI #AIActionSummit https://lnkd.in/gYQEHuPM

On 6 February, H.E. Amb. Dr. Abdulsalam AlMadani (UAE), PAM's Roving Ambassador for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Chairman of the Centre for Global Studies (CGS), was awarded the prestigious “David B. Kriser Medal” by New York University in recognition of his exceptional contributions to healthcare, education, and humanitarian causes. It is the first time in 53 years that this distinguished honor has been awarded to a recipient outside the United States. PAM-CGS extends its warmest congratulations to H.E. Amb. Dr. Abdulsalam AlMadani on this remarkable achievement, which reflects his unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable advancements in key sectors that benefit societies worldwide.

🔹On 31 January 2025, the Stimson Research Centre published an article entitled “Backwards Thinking on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Trafficking”, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in the use of AI to combat human trafficking. 🔹The article, authored by Brian Drake, underscores the urgency of adapting law enforcement strategies to the digitalization of human trafficking. With traffickers leveraging cryptocurrency and online platforms, traditional investigative methods prove insufficient. AI presents a crucial opportunity to track illicit transactions and identify trafficking networks at scale. However, limited governmental investment and concerns over algorithmic bias hinder progress. The article calls for a strategic shift to focus AI on dismantling trafficking operations rather than surveilling victims, ensuring a more effective and proactive approach to combating this global crime. 🔹The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), supported by its Centre for Global Studies (CGS), actively promotes the responsible use of AI while prioritizing its regulation. 🔹In this context, on 28 November 2024, PAM-CGS, in partnership with the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), published a comprehensive report entitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance”. The report sets essential guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI, emphasizing the need for strong legislative measures, enhanced security mechanisms, and effective governance to counter the malicious exploitation of emerging technologies. 🔹Furthermore, PAM stands at the forefront of combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling worldwide. This commitment is exemplified by its dedicated Campaign Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, which has received broad support from key international organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Learn more: https://lnkd.in/exw8AAGk

🔹On 20 January, Chinese AI company DeepSeek released its latest language model, r1, which has drawn significant attention for its advanced reasoning capabilities, reportedly matching OpenAI’s o1 on key benchmarks. 🔹DeepSeek also released the model’s weights and a technical paper detailing its methodology, a level of transparency that has become less common among major AI developers. By 26 January, the DeepSeek app had risen to the top of the Apple App Store’s download rankings, ahead of ChatGPT and other AI platforms. 🔹PAM, supported by its Centre for Global Studies (CGS), remains committed to fostering responsible innovation in artificial intelligence, ensuring its beneficial use for all members of society. 🔹In this context, on 28 November, PAM-CGS, in partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), published a comprehensive report etitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance.” The report underwent a rigorous peer review process involving contributions from the UN system, alongside strategic partners and leading think tanks such as Amazon, INTERPOL, Media Duemila, NATO, The Policy Center for the New South, and the Global Research Network (GRN) of CTED. 🔹The report sets essential guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI, emphasizing robust frameworks for security, governance, and legislative measures to counter the malicious exploitation of emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups. #AI #China https://lnkd.in/d-zuW9RJ

🇺🇳On 22 January 2025, UN Secretary-General delivered his remarks to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland held under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”. 🔹The Secretary-General highlighted the ongoing climate crisis and condemned backtracking on climate commitments by industries and financial institutions, calling it “short-sighted” and urging immediate, robust, and accountable climate action plans ahead of COP30 in Brazil. 🔹PAM aligns with the United Nations concerns and urges its Member States to implement robust climate policies, and invest in sustainable technologies, as highlighted during COP29 in Baku last November and as it will be explained in the PAM Resolutions on Economy and on Environment to be discussed at its next Plenary Session in Rome. 🔹Furthermore PAM, supported by its Centre for Global Studies (CGS), remains committed to fostering responsible innovation in Artificial Intelligence, through its Parliamentary Observatory on AI, ensuring its beneficial use for all members of society. 🔹In this context, on 28 November, PAM-CGS, in partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), published a comprehensive report etitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance.” Learn More: https://lnkd.in/dVnhiYKZ

🔹In early January 2025, #Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed about his decision to replace the company’s third-party fact-checking program with a community-driven notes system. 🔹Meta’s announcement follows the policy set by X (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, which abandoned external fact-checkers in 2022 in favor of its user-powered notes system. The new model is part of a broader industry shift as platforms respond to political and regulatory pressures. 🔹Such policies may contribute to the spread of misinformation, false information, and other manipulative tactics, particularly if safeguards and accountability mechanisms are not effectively implemented. 🔹As announced on 21 January, the European Commission formalized its efforts to combat illegal hate speech online by integrating the industry’s Code of Conduct into the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s comprehensive platform regulation framework. Initially introduced in 2016, the Code of Conduct has been endorsed by major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok, which commit to reviewing at least two-thirds of hate speech reports within 24 hours. The Commission’s move, in collaboration with national DSA coordinators, aims to strengthen compliance and enforcement mechanisms, ensuring platforms address risks linked to the dissemination of illegal content. 🔹In response to the growing influence of misinformation, PAM International Study Centre is preparing a report on the resilience of democratic institutions, monitoring how State and non-State actors utilize propaganda, deepfakes, #Misinformation and #Disinformation strategies to manipulate #DemocraticProcesses. https://lnkd.in/gaWdbmQA

🇺🇸On 14 January, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order aimed at accelerating the development of advanced AI data centers on federal land, solidifying the nation’s leadership in artificial intelligence innovation. 📌The order directs federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Energy, to lease suitable federal land for the construction of AI-focused data centers, emphasizing the integration of renewable energy to achieve clean energy goals and safeguard surrounding communities. 🔹The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), supported by its Centre for Global Studies (CGS), remains committed to fostering responsible innovation in artificial intelligence, ensuring its beneficial use for all members of society. 🔹In this context, on 28 November, PAM-CGS, in partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), published a comprehensive report etitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance.” The report underwent a rigorous peer review process involving contributions from the UN system, alongside strategic partners and leading think tanks such as Amazon, INTERPOL, Media Duemila, NATO, The Policy Center for the New South, and the Global Research Network (GRN) of CTED. 🔹The report sets essential guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI, emphasizing robust frameworks for security, governance, and legislative measures to counter the malicious exploitation of emerging technologies by terrorist and criminal groups. 🔹It was presented at the 19th UN Internet Governance Forum in #Riyadh and shared with all Members of the UN Security Council during the high-level briefing on #ArtificialIntelligence convened under the United States Presidency in late December 2024. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g4y9mZfW

🔷As reported by #LawfareMedia on 9 January, concerns over the control of advanced #AI systems have intensified following three significant developments. Two studies published by the international Study Center Apollo Research revealed that systems like #GPT-4 and Claude may exhibit behaviors that actively resist human intervention. These systems have been observed lying, faking compliance, disabling oversight mechanisms, and attempting to replicate themselves onto external servers. While current models lack the sophistication to fully subvert human control, the unveiling of OpenAI’s new o3 model in mid-December raises alarm. 🔷In late Novermber PAM-CGS, in partnership with the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and #UNOCT published a comprehensive report entitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance”, benefitted from an in-depth peer review, which actively engaged the UN system, as well as strategic partners and think tanks, such as Amazon, INTERPOL, Media Duemila, NATO, The Policy Center for the New South, and the Global Research Network (GRN) of CTED. 🔷The report was presented 19th UN Internet Governance Forum in #Riyadh, and shared it with all the Members of the UN Security Council on the occasion of the high-level briefing on #ArtificialIntelligence (AI), held under US Presidency, last December. 🔷PAM-CGS continues to produce in-depth research on AI, promoting its ethical use and addressing the evolving challenges posed by emerging technologies. In line with this commitment, PAM-CGS publishes a daily and weekly #Digest on AI, offering timely updates on trends in governance, security, legislation, defense, intelligence, and warfare. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d3RsytZE Report https://lnkd.in/djMxhyJr Digest https://lnkd.in/dwdMn5Pb

🇺🇳19 December 2024, UNHQ, New York – The United Nations Security Council convened, under the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”, for a high-level briefing on #ArtificialIntelligence (AI), under the chairmanship of H.E. Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, as part of the United States’ December Presidency. 🔹The meeting addressed the responsible development and governance of #AI, particularly its implications for international peace and security. Building on prior #UNSC discussions, the adoption of the #UNPactoftheFuture and its annex, the #GlobalDigitalCompact, as well as global debates, the briefing explored ways to mitigate risks, narrow digital divides, and establish safeguards, particularly in the military domain. 📌The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), holding the IGO Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations General Assembly since 2009, contributed to the meeting by sharing with all the Members of the Security Council its recently published report entitled “The Malicious Use of AI and Emerging Technologies by Terrorist and Criminal Groups: Impact on Security, Legislation, and Governance”, developed by the PAM Centre for Global Studies (CGS), in collaboration with the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). The report also benefitted from an in-depth peer review carried our with the assistance of, inter alia, Amazon, INTERPOL, Media Duemila, NATO, The Policy Center for the New South, and the Global Research Network (GRN) of CTED. 🔹In line with this objective, and as announced by Ambassador Dr. Abdulsalam AlMadani, PAM’s Roving Ambassador for the GCC and Chairman of CGS, PAM is considering with CGS the organization of a series of parliamentary events in 2025, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), trust-building, and global governance. https://lnkd.in/dmZddpDD #AI #Future #Governance

🔹15 – 19 December 2024, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and it Ceentre for Global Studies (CGS) attended and contributed to the 19th Annual Meeting of the UN IGF, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh, under the theme: “Building our Multistakeholder Digital Future”. 🔹PAM was represented by a high-level delegation led by Hon. Pedro Roque, PAM Vice-President, which included H.E. Dr. Jehad Alfadhel (Bahrain), Second Deputy Chairman of the Consultative Assembly; Hon. Joana Lima (Portugal), President of the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF); Hon. Abdelouahab Yagoubi (Algeria), PAM Rapporteur on Artificial Intelligence, as well as senior staff of parliament and the PAM Secretariat. 🔹Two meeting were particlularly relevant for PAM-CGS, notably the Open Forum organized by the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on “Countering the Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Terrorist Purposes” held on 16 December; and the session on Parliamentary approaches to the use of information and communication technologies in Counter-Terrorism in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1373, organized by the UNOCT Programme Office in Doha, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Shura Council of Qatar, held on 18 December. https://lnkd.in/d-8AAsyq