Translational Criminology Seminar: Use of AI in Policing of Online-Extremism and Hate Crime in Europe

Translational Criminology Seminar: Use of AI in Policing of Online-Extremism and Hate Crime in Europe — Obstacles and Perspectives

WHEN

27 November 2025
Thursday
12.30pm - 2.00pm Australia/Sydney

WHERE

City campus
Building 10, Level 4, Room 440 (CB10.04.440)

COST

Free admission

RSVP

This presentation examines current trends in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence for policing online extremism and hate crime across European countries, discussing how AI technologies might enhance democratic policing capabilities while preserving civil liberties and maintaining public trust in law enforcement institutions operating in increasingly complex digital environments.

Online hate crimes, including incitement to hatred, are increasing dramatically across various European states. Existing platform regulation approaches, such as the Digital Services Act, have thus far not proven effective as regulatory instruments. Simultaneously, digital spaces facilitate radicalisation processes leading to extremist violence.

Law enforcement agencies currently operate largely reactively in digital environments, responding to reported offences or monitoring known "risk individuals." Online patrols in spaces heavily burdened with hate speech occur only sporadically. Effective approaches for policing hate and extremism in digital spaces remain absent. A significant challenge lies in the vast volumes of online data that cannot be processed manually.

Against this backdrop, AI support for extremism and terrorism prevention is analysed, alongside risks to transparency, fundamental rights, and accountability. Particular attention is addressed to potential misuse for surveilling unwelcome opinions—a realistic concern given Europe's growing authoritarian movements. Design approaches for AI as sociotechnical systems that effectively mitigate these risks are also outlined.

The event will also be livestreamed via Zoom.

Featured speaker

Dr Robert Pelzer

Dr Robert Pelzer studied sociology and criminology in Hamburg and Berlin, Germany, completing his PhD in Criminology at the University of Hamburg on target selection by jihadist terrorists in Europe. Since April 2014, he has been working as a research associate at Centre Technology and Society at Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin).

Since 2019, he has been Head of the Department of Security, Risk and Criminology, where he leads several third-party funded research projects and coordinates national collaborative research initiatives. His research focuses on radicalisation and desistance processes from extremism, reconstructive social and biographical research, logics and decision-making processes in terrorist actions, policing of violent extremism, and critical assessment of security technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Learn more

This event is supported by funding from the UTS Key Technology Partner Visiting Fellowship Program and hosted by Dr Kai Lin, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Convenor of the Translational Criminology Seminar Series and Policing Research Theme Leader in the Crime & Security Science Research Group (CaSS). Event coordination is led by Dr Kai Lin, with administrative support from Ms Shannon Moriarty in the School of International Studies and Education.

Light snacks and refreshments will be catered at this event.