Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The first SCO Plus Dialogue on Security Issues concluded in Samarkand on 6 November, bringing together more than 180 representatives of special services and international organisations from 24 countries.
Participants discussed efforts to counter terrorism and extremism amid digital transformation and the spread of new technologies, the press service of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) said.
The event brought together 33 delegations representing SCO member states, observer countries and dialogue partners, as well as five international organisations.
The meeting was held under the theme “Security in the Era of Digital Transformation: Countering Terrorism and Extremism in the Context of New Technologies” and took the form of a plenary session.
In his address to participants, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of information security, protecting critical infrastructure and strengthening states’ resilience to new forms of disruptive influence.
He said digital technologies create additional opportunities for development but also give rise to new vulnerabilities that require a coordinated response.
During the session, delegations reviewed national experiences in countering terrorist activities, discussed mechanisms for international cooperation and considered tools to prevent the spread of extremism and radicalism in the digital space.
Particular attention was paid to the potential use of artificial intelligence, digital platforms and other technological tools to spread terrorist propaganda, recruit supporters and coordinate unlawful activities.
Participants highlighted the SCO Plus format’s potential to bring expert approaches closer together, facilitate the exchange of practical experience and develop joint security recommendations.
Following the meeting, the heads of delegations adopted a Joint Communiqué.
The document proposed conducting research into how new technologies are changing the nature of terrorist threats, preparing reviews of effective preventive practices, and organising thematic seminars and professional development programmes.
