Experts Debate Modern Counterterrorism Priorities Amid Shifting Global Threats
At a summit marking 25 years since the 9/11 attacks, former U.S. officials and advisers discussed how counterterrorism strategy must adapt to emerging technologies like AI and a focus on great-power competition. Panelists noted that while global jihadism is no longer the top homeland threat, terrorism remains a persistent challenge both domestically and abroad. The discussion highlighted the need for innovative thinking to anticipate new terror risks.
At a New York summit marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, former officials acknowledged that global jihadism has faded as the top homeland threat, but warned about emerging technologies. Jen Easterly noted AI could generate instructions for crude cyber, biological, or radiological weapons, with groups like Boko Haram already using it for propaganda and attack planning.
The panel also addressed drones and cyberattacks, especially in state-sponsored conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and U.S.-Iran. Chris Costa emphasized the need to share lessons with international partners, recalling the 9/11 Commission's "failure of imagination" and the Boston Marathon bombers' use of an online al Qaeda magazine.
This strategic recalibration could affect public safety as resources pivot toward great-power competition, potentially leaving gaps in counterterrorism. The rise of AI-enabled attacks may make threats more diffuse and harder to predict, impacting civilians and critical infrastructure. Increased reliance on international cooperation could either bolster collective defense or create vulnerabilities if alliances fray, shaping how societies prepare for and respond to future attacks.