Preventive Counterterrorism in the Age of AI: Strategic Effectiveness and Human Rights Risk

Abstract

This paper examines how AI reshapes the balance between national security and human rights in counterterrorism. AI-driven strategies rely on mass data collection and surveillance, creating tensions with privacy, due process, and non-discrimination. Using OHCHR principles – legality, necessity, and proportionality – it analyses the EU AI Act and OSCE frameworks. It identifies three key risks: privacy violations through surveillance, discriminatory targeting from biased algorithms, and reduced due process due to limited explainability. The EU framework also contains gaps via national security exceptions. The paper argues that human rights protection is essential, requiring clear legal bases, transparency, accountability, and independent oversight.

About the author

Jeonghye Cho is a South Korean police officer and a police researcher at the Police Science Institute of the Korean National Police University and a former officer in the Republic of Korea Army. With academic backgrounds in psychology and peace and conflict studies, she is currently a Ph.D. candidate in sociology. Her research focuses on counterterrorism policy, public safety, crisis management, security and human rights

Keywords:
Counterterrorism – Human Rights – Artificial Intelligence

DOI: 10.58866/YARN2489