China has called for stronger international governance of emerging technologies to prevent their misuse by terrorist groups. Speaking at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC), Sun Lei, the chargé d’affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said terrorists are increasingly exploiting technologies including artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, cryptocurrencies, drones and online platforms for propaganda, recruitment and operations.
Chinese representatives urged international cooperation on technology regulation, information sharing, cybersecurity capacity building and technology assistance, particularly for developing countries. Sun Lei also highlighted security concerns in Syria, Afghanistan and Africa’s Sahel region, where instability could provide opportunities for extremist groups to expand.
Geographical boundaries or traditional communication channels no longer confine modern terrorist organisations. They now operate in a connected digital environment that includes encrypted messaging apps, cloud computing, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence (AI), and uncrewed aerial vehicles. As technology advances, governments face the challenge of supporting innovation while preventing its misuse by violent actors.
Terrorist organisations could use AI-generated content to spread extremist narratives, influence public opinion, impersonate trusted figures, or run multilingual recruitment campaigns targeting vulnerable audiences worldwide.
AI can also help cybercriminals identify system vulnerabilities, automate phishing attacks, and develop more sophisticated malware. While governments are expanding the use of AI for intelligence and national security, extremist groups are also adapting to these technologies. Drone technology has created another security challenge. Commercial drones have become more affordable, widely available, and technologically advanced.
Financial technology has also changed terrorist financing. Cash-based funding networks have expanded to include digital payment systems, cryptocurrencies, crowdfunding platforms, and anonymous online transactions. Although blockchain technology is transparent by design, some privacy-focused cryptocurrencies and mixing services have made it harder to trace illicit financial flows.
China’s address to the UNSC outlined the risks posed by emerging technologies. It also presented a broader framework for international cooperation to balance technological innovation with global security.
Sun Lei stated the solution is not to slow technological development but to strengthen governance systems that prevent misuse while allowing legitimate innovation to continue.
Sun Lei proposed a more proactive approach in which governments, international organisations, technology companies, and researchers work together to identify security vulnerabilities early in the development process.
Sun Lei said, “The international community should uphold cooperation, reject the politicisation of counter-terrorism and strengthen coordinated action. China will continue to promote international counter-terrorism cooperation under frameworks including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, and work with all parties to combat terrorism in all its forms.”
Sun Lei mentioned areas where terrorism still poses a threat to global peace and security while talking about developing technologies. He expressed worries about persistent security issues in Syria, Afghanistan, and the Sahel region of Africa, among other issues that go beyond digital governance.
Sun Lei noted that Syria’s transitional government should take firm action against all terrorist organisations listed by the Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.
Chinese envoy also highlighted the worsening security situation across Africa’s Sahel region, where terrorist violence has increased in recent years. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger continue to face attacks by extremist organisations that exploit porous borders, political instability, and limited state capacity.
While respecting the sovereignty of African countries, Sun Lei demanded increased international assistance in border control, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism training, and institutional capacity building. Increased collaboration between the UN and the African Union would improve both short-term security initiatives and long-term regional growth, resulting in a more all-encompassing strategy to combat terrorism throughout the continent.
Sun Lei further added, “Afghan authorities need to fulfil their counter-terrorism commitments and prevent the country from becoming a base for terrorist activities again. United Nations should deepen cooperation with the African Union and advance development to tackle the root causes of terrorism.”
AI is becoming the first line of defence as internet syndicates and extremist networks scramble to weaponise new technologies. Recently, a Poipet-based syndicate that was abusing ChatGPT to create bogus investment identities and romance scripts was recently dismantled by OpenAI. According to OpenAI’s threat intelligence data, investigators and regular users frequently utilise conversational AI to examine phishing URLs, job offers, and questionable SMS messages.
To tackle cross-border threats, INTERPOL partnered with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the European Union under the Toolkit for Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement framework, pooling INTERPOL’s 196-country network, UN legal expertise, and EU technical funding because no single nation can combat decentralised global syndicates alone.
Backed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), these partner agencies deploy automated AI analytics, multilingual processing, and dark web monitoring to map cross-border communications, trace illicit cryptocurrency transfers, and disrupt extremist recruitment campaigns while ensuring ethical human-rights guardrails.
