Academic

Securitising AI: routine exceptionality and digital governance in the Gulf

Abstract This article examines how Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states securitise artificial intelligence (AI) through discourses and infrastructures that fuse modernisation with regime resilience. Drawing on securitisation theory (Buzan et al., 1998; Balzacq, 2011) and critical security studies, it analyses national strategies, surveillance systems, and mega-event governance in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. It argues that AI functions as both a legitimising narrative and a technology of control, embedding predictive policing and biometric surveillance within public–private assemblages. The study situates these developments within global AI politics, demonstrating how external chokepoints, ethical frameworks, and vendor ecosystems shape the Gulf’s evolving security governance, leading to empirical effects such as the normalisation of exceptional measures in everyday administration.

M
Muhanad Seloom · · 1 min read · 8 views

Abstract This article examines how Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states securitise artificial intelligence (AI) through discourses and infrastructures that fuse modernisation with regime resilience. Drawing on securitisation theory (Buzan et al., 1998; Balzacq, 2011) and critical security studies, it analyses national strategies, surveillance systems, and mega-event governance in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. It argues that AI functions as both a legitimising narrative and a technology of control, embedding predictive policing and biometric surveillance within public–private assemblages. The study situates these developments within global AI politics, demonstrating how external chokepoints, ethical frameworks, and vendor ecosystems shape the Gulf’s evolving security governance, leading to empirical effects such as the normalisation of exceptional measures in everyday administration.

Executive Summary

The article examines how Gulf Cooperation Council states securitise artificial intelligence through modernisation and regime resilience. It argues that AI functions as both a legitimising narrative and a technology of control, embedding predictive policing and biometric surveillance. The study situates these developments within global AI politics, demonstrating how external factors shape the Gulf's evolving security governance, leading to the normalisation of exceptional measures. This has significant implications for digital governance, human rights, and the role of technology in shaping societal norms.

Key Points

  • ▸ GCC states securitise AI through discourses and infrastructures that fuse modernisation with regime resilience
  • ▸ AI functions as both a legitimising narrative and a technology of control
  • ▸ The Gulf's evolving security governance is shaped by external factors such as global AI politics and vendor ecosystems

Merits

Theoretical Framework

The article effectively applies securitisation theory and critical security studies to examine AI governance in the GCC states

Empirical Analysis

The study provides a detailed analysis of national strategies, surveillance systems, and mega-event governance in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia

Demerits

Limited Generalisability

The article's focus on GCC states may limit its generalisability to other regions or contexts

Lack of Critical Evaluation

The study could benefit from a more critical evaluation of the ethical implications of AI securitisation in the Gulf region

Expert Commentary

The article provides a timely and insightful analysis of the securitisation of AI in the GCC states. The study's findings highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between technology, governance, and security in the digital age. As AI technologies continue to evolve and proliferate, it is essential to develop more effective governance frameworks that balance the need for security with the need to protect human rights and promote democratic values. Ultimately, the article underscores the importance of critical scholarship in examining the social and political implications of emerging technologies.

Recommendations

  • ✓ Develop more effective regulations and oversight mechanisms to ensure that AI technologies are used in ways that respect human rights and promote democratic values
  • ✓ Conduct further research on the social and political implications of AI securitisation in different regions and contexts

Sources

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