The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), held a panel discussion titled: “Employing Artificial Intelligence Tools in Managing Security-Related Media Crises and Their Societal Impact” on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event was organized as part of the scientific forum “The Role of Media Security in Enhancing Societal Security,” with the aim of strengthening media security as a fundamental pillar of comprehensive national and societal security through addressing the challenges of the modern digital environment and promoting integration among the media, security, and technology sectors.

Dr. Barakat Al-Wegyan, Head of the Communication Division at ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, reviewed the Organization’s and the Sector’s efforts to enhance media and digital literacy and build the capacities of institutions and individuals through their training programs and specialized initiatives, thereby contributing to the promotion of media security and the fight against misinformation.

He also highlighted the impact of AI on transforming the nature of media crises and the consequent need to develop mechanisms for monitoring, verification, and rapid response in order to curb the spread of disinformation and safeguard public awareness.

Mr. Khalid Alshammari, Director of Strategic Communications and Media at the Pilgrim Experience Program, addressed the role of security media and the use of AI tools in organizing the Hajj season. He emphasized the importance of strategic communication in supporting crowd management, building trust, and delivering media messages that keep pace with field requirements.

For his part, Mr. Hadi Alfakeeh, expert in strategic communication and former leader within the Saudi Vision 2030 ecosystem, explained that successful media crisis management requires integration between technical and communication dimensions. He stressed the importance of preparedness and the development of flexible communication strategies capable of responding to the rapidly evolving digital environment.

The session concluded with an open discussion during which participants’ questions were addressed and views were exchanged on the topics covered by the panel.