National Training: Enhancing Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Networks with Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) in partnership with the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and Turkmenistan held a two-day national seminar in Ashgabat on 3 and 4 June 2025. The event aimed at enhancing counter-terrorism early warning through the use of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and strengthening the capacities of Member States to prevent and respond to terrorist threats in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. 

The training seminar gathered more than 30 national security practitioners, policymakers, and technical experts to explore innovative preventive approaches to data management, cybersecurity, and AI. The curricula covered topics including data governance, cybersecurity threats, OSINT monitoring techniques, and AI-driven tools for threat detection and predictive analysis. Participants engaged in practical sessions dedicated to building online monitoring systems for tracking online radicalization and addressing ethical and legal considerations in deploying these technologies.

As UNOCT supports Member States in building resilient and adaptive counter-terrorism frameworks, the training marked a significant step in enhancing global cooperation and technical expertise to address the evolving terrorist threats.

The training course was conducted under the Counter-Terrorism Easly Warning Network initiative launched in 2022 under Phase IV of the Joint Plan of Action. It is aligned with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16).