CLEAR: Critical Thinking, Information and Media Literacy, Ethical AI, and Resilience for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism

Project CLEAR takes action against violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) by linking prevention, artificial intelligence (AI) awareness and operational partnership within a single, multi-stakeholder framework. This makes it the first and only OSCE project to address the full spectrum of the online radicalization to violence process. Bringing together governments, law enforcement, civil society, youth and the private sector, it builds shared understanding and practical capabilities to counter technology-enabled terrorism in line with human rights and the rule of law.

Across the OSCE area and beyond, rapid digital transformation is reshaping both the threat landscape and the response toolbox for preventing VERLT. Malicious actors increasingly exploit online spaces and emerging technologies such as AI to generate deepfakes, amplify violent extremist narratives, and obscure identities for recruitment and operational planning. As these capabilities spread and become more accessible every day, participating States need to be prepared. 

Currently, many institutions, however, lack the technical capacity, practical guidance and co-ordination frameworks needed to manage AI-enabled risks and to access cross-border electronic evidence in a way that respects human rights. 

Used responsibly, emerging technologies offer important opportunities for preventing and countering VERLT: they support detection, more targeted prevention and effective operational responses, for example, by helping institutions navigate large volumes of information and respond faster in rapidly evolving online environments. 

However, leveraging these benefits is not possible without clear safeguards, sustained regional and international co-operation, and a stronger focus on media, information and AI literacy to empower communities to recognize and resist manipulation. Strengthening digital resilience requires joint efforts across governments, civil society, law enforcement as well as the tech sector to ensure that technological innovation supports security, human rights and the rule of law. 

To address these challenges, Project CLEAR was created to help participating States keep pace with technological change, ensuring they don’t merely react to crises, but remain prepared for future threats.