Chinese Journal of European Studies

In the 21st Century, the NATO is facing ever-changing and complicated counter-terrorism situations. The application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in fighting terrorism is a key area in NATO’s global security strategy. From 2001 to 2010, the NATO focused on collecting raw data for AI counter-terrorism studies and promoting AI counter-terrorism practice both on land and at sea. From 2011 to 2020, the NATO promoted the research and development in AI counter-terrorism in an all-round way, built up technological platforms for fighting terrorism with AI, and used artificially intelligent weapons in its counter-terrorism practices. However, a number of dilemmas exist in the NATO’s strategies, including its counter-terrorism policies lagging behind the evolution of the terrorist threats, remaining loopholes in its supervision of cyber radicalization, technical challenges faced by AI counter-terrorism and lack of coordination among its member states.