On 12 February 2026, the United Nations will mark the fourth observance of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, under the theme “Preventing Violent Extremism in the Age of New and Emerging Technologies,”
On this occasion, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), through the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), will convene in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, a Special Dialogue entitled “From Principles to Practice: Special Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism”. The event will take place United Nations Headquarters in New York at 2PM EST and will be broadcast live on UNWEBTV.
The Dialogue will feature the official launch of the UNOCT Practice Guide on Artificial Intelligence and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), the first UN-system resource dedicated to providing practical, human rights-based guidance on the responsible use of AI in PCVE.
Background
Rapid digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, algorithmic systems, evolving social media and gaming platforms and other emerging online spaces, is reshaping how individuals and communities communicate, form identities and engage with the world.
While these technologies offer significant opportunities to strengthen efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism, and to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, they are also increasingly exploited by terrorist actors, their supporters and sympathizers.
The rise of AI-generated content, deepfakes, and algorithmic amplification increases the speed, scale and reach of harmful narratives, creating new and complex challenges for prevention efforts and underlining the need for safeguards and transparent, accountable digital governance, that also upholds freedom of the media and free expression.
At the same time, new and emerging technologies are not the problem in themselves. When designed and used responsibly, digital platforms and algorithms can be powerful tools for prevention, enabling earlier detection of harmful trends, better understanding of pathways to radicalization to violence, more tailored and positive messaging, and more effective, community‑centred and evidence‑based prevention efforts.
The Special Dialogue
Against this backdrop, the Special Dialogue will together representatives of Member States, United Nations entities, practitioners, technology experts, civil society, and youth to examine the risks and opportunities associated with AI in PCVE. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional readiness, improving AI literacy, and addressing governance gaps that currently limit the responsible adoption of AI in PCVE efforts. Specific objectives include:
- Increase awareness of the evolving AI and PCVE landscape, including how violent extremist actors are exploiting AI and its related implications for PCVE.
- Examine the human rights, gender, ethical, and operational risks associated with AI-enabled PCVE tools as well as discuss concrete strategies for risk mitigation, human rights-based and responsible governance.
- Showcase practical experiences and emerging opportunities for the responsible use of AI in PCVE, including perspectives from practitioners, platforms, youth, and policymakers.
- Launch the UNOCT Practice Guide on AI and PCVE, highlighting its purpose and practical value for policymakers and practitioners.
- Highlight key lessons learned from the AI and PCVE Project and outline priorities the next iteration of this work with a focus on organizational readiness, leadership, and institutional capacity. From Principles to Practice: Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue and cross-UN coherence on AI, PCVE, and digital governance.
Useful resources
Watch live on UNWebTV
Date: 12 February 2026
Time: 14:00–16:00
Venue: Conference Room 8, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Registration: https://bit.ly/4blYgMH
The Practice Guide: from insight to action
A central outcome of the project is the Practice Guide on Artificial Intelligence and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, developed by the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre within UNOCT with the generous support of the Republic of Korea.
The Practice Guide provides practical human rights-based guidance toPCVE practitioners and policymakers seeking to engage with AI responsibly in PCVE contexts. It supports informed decision-making, strengthens organisational readiness, and helps ensure that AI use aligns with ethical principles, human rights and the rule of law.
Drawing on global research, a worldwide survey of practitioners, and consultations with governments, civil society, technology experts and international organisations, the Guide explains:
- How violent extremist actors are already misusing AI
- Where AI can responsibly support prevention efforts
- What human rights, ethical and governance risks must be managed when applying AI in sensitive prevention contexts
- How organisations can strengthen safeguards, oversight and institutional readiness for the responsible use of AI
The Guide also includes a practical workbook, featuring tools such as an AI risk assessment template, a human rights and ethics checklist, and a stakeholder-mapping tool, designed for immediate use by PCVE actors.
Rather than promoting technology for its own sake, the Guide places prevention, trust and community protection at its core, reinforcings that AI must remain a tool guided by human judgement, law and human rights.
Who the Guide is for
The Practice Guide is designed for a wide range of actors working to prevent and counter violent extremism, including:
• National and local government officials
• PCVE and counter-terrorism practitioners
• Civil society organisations and community-based actors
• Researchers and policy analysts
• International and regional organisations
• Technology and platform partners working in prevention
Whether an organisation is already experimenting with AI or only beginning to explore its relevance, the Guide provides a structured way to navigate choices, manage risks and identify where technology can genuinely add value.