Abu dhabi: TRENDS Research and Advisory, in collaboration with IMI Media Group, organised an international symposium titled “Deconstructing Extremist Narratives in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Media,” as part of its participation in the BRIDGE Summit 2025. The event sought to address how extremism has transitioned to digital platforms that are challenging to monitor.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, opened the symposium, highlighting the shift of extremism to concealed digital spaces. He noted that extremist groups are now equipped with capabilities to specifically target audiences like young people and consumers of short-form media. Dr. Al-Ali stated that TRENDS is committed to dismantling extremist discourse and crafting alternative narratives promoting peace and moderation. He stressed the importance of education, media, legislation, and research analysis in countering ‘soft extremism,’ with intellectual resilience being a crucial long-term solution.
The symposium featured insights from speakers such as Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, Chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council; Senator Nathalie Goulet from the French Senate; Gustav Gustenau, Secretary-General of the European Institute for Counter Terrorism and Conflict Prevention; American journalist Emily Austin; and Dr. Sterling Jensen from Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities. The discussion, moderated by Michella Haddad from Sky News Arabia, addressed how digital threats have transformed into a ‘digital war zone,’ where content and algorithms replace traditional warfare.
Dr. Al-Kuwaiti provided an overview of the UAE’s cybersecurity achievements, attributing success to a collaborative ecosystem including society, educational institutions, technology companies, and security agencies. He highlighted the danger posed by digital extremism to both information infrastructure and collective awareness, urging the creation of digital prevention programs as a preemptive knowledge shield.
Gustenau’s analysis focused on the Muslim Brotherhood’s use of digital communication, describing its strategy of ‘communication jihad’ to build digital audiences for future mobilisation. He advocated for specialised analysis centres to counter hybrid extremist organisations.
Senator Goulet emphasised the lack of accountability among major platforms, which inadvertently promote extremist content due to AI-driven prioritisation. She called for legislative measures to ensure platforms are responsible for content, particularly targeting vulnerable groups.
Dr. Jensen discussed the educational and psychological challenges in countering digital extremism, recommending the integration of media analysis and fact-assessment skills into educational curricula to foster intellectual resilience.
The symposium concluded with recommendations for enhanced collaboration between think tanks and technology companies, the creation of knowledge-monitoring networks, educational curricula that encourage critical thinking, and interactive initiatives targeting youth in digital platforms.