Arab League Calls for Improving Media Performance to Counter Hate Speech and Negative AI Uses

Cairo, October 18 (KUNA) -- The Arab League called on Sunday for the enhancement of media performance to counter hate speech, extremism, and the negative uses of artificial intelligence, in line with digital transformations and the regulation of publishing operations on social media platforms. This was stated in a speech delivered by Ahmed Khatibi, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League for the Media Sector, during the opening session of the Third International Conference titled “Media and Information Literacy and Global Understanding: Peace for All,” which commenced today in Cairo.

Khatibi said the conference embodies the fruits of cooperation between Arab and international universities, which has proven its effectiveness since its first edition held at the Arab League Secretariat General headquarters in April 2024. That edition witnessed a rich dialogue between academics and media professionals, resulting in practical recommendations and insights to enhance media literacy and combat hate speech and extremism.

He added that the second edition, hosted in Barcelona in April 2025, continued this path and contributed to supporting cooperation and broadening the horizons of dialogue between academic and media institutions. Khatibi viewed this cooperation as an opportunity to expand the circle of dialogue with universities and link media research and studies centers in the Arab world with their international counterparts, thereby enhancing the exchange of expertise and knowledge transfer and supporting the presence of the Arab vision in international forums concerned with media culture and intercivilizational dialogue.

In this regard, he emphasized that enhancing media and information literacy has become a “necessity” dictated by the nature of the current stage amid digital transformation and the rapid flow of information, which requires equipping individuals with the necessary tools to distinguish between information and to evaluate media discourse with critical awareness.

Khatibi also stressed the importance of developing and disseminating narratives of cooperation and interaction between cultures and societies, considering them a fundamental pillar for building a more understanding and closer world, free from tendencies toward isolation and rejection of the other. He reaffirmed the rejection of all forms of hatred, discrimination, racism, and offensive stereotypes against peoples and cultures, noting that countering these practices requires organized collective action that enhances human diversity and highlights its role in enriching cultural and civilizational diversity.

In the same context, Khatibi warned against the dangers of extremism and its accompanying tendencies of exclusivity and unilateralism at the expense of others, explaining that these dangers “are fed by misleading and biased media discourse.” He stressed the necessity of firmly addressing extremism and radicalism and the terrorism that may result from them, which threatens the security of individuals and societies.

He affirmed the importance of developing media performance to keep pace with rapid transformations and working to address and regulate publishing operations on social media platforms that may provide an avenue for such harmful practices. In this regard, Khatibi called for enhancing cooperation to find common and effective mechanisms that prevent the spread of unsafe media practices, foremost among them the misuse and negative use of artificial intelligence tools, thereby contributing to consolidating a culture of responsible media and enhancing understanding among peoples.

The conference, whose proceedings will continue until October 20, is organized in collaboration with Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Arab League, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Its activities feature officials, policymakers, academics, and media experts from Arab, European, Asian, and African countries to discuss the role of media and information literacy and artificial intelligence in confronting media misinformation and hate speech.

The conference sessions focus on discussing the use of media and information to support peace, dialogue, and understanding among peoples, as well as the possibility of organizing an international forum on the use of artificial intelligence for peace, and the promotion of ethics, transparency, and education. (End) M.M. / N.A.A.