{"id":51139,"date":"2025-06-11T13:09:51","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T10:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eliamep.gr\/?post_type=events&p=51139"},"modified":"2025-07-08T12:45:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T09:45:52","slug":"sybosio-engage-stin-athina-chartografontas-ti-syndesi-metaxy-gaming-kai-extremismou","status":"publish","type":"events","link":"https:\/\/www.eliamep.gr\/en\/events\/engage-symposium-in-athens-navigating-the-nexus-of-gaming-and-extremism\/","title":{"rendered":"ENgaGE Symposium in Athens: Navigating the Nexus of Gaming and Extremism"},"content":{"rendered":"

A landmark event in the European response to online extremism<\/strong>, the ENgaGE Symposium brought together 72 participants from across Europe<\/strong> to tackle one of the most pressing digital challenges of our time: the exploitation of gaming ecosystems by extremist actors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Organised by the South-East Europe Programme of ELIAMEP<\/strong>, in the context of the Horizon Europe-funded<\/strong> GEMS Project (Gaming Ecosystem as a Multi-layered Security Threat), the two-day Symposium marked the first official meeting of the European Network against Gaming-Related Extremism (ENgaGE)<\/strong>. Hosted at the Office of the European Parliament in Athens, the event convened a diverse coalition of policymakers, law enforcement authorities, gaming industry leaders, academics, and civil society actors.<\/p>\n

Together, they explored innovative cross-sector strategies for building resilience and safeguarding digital gaming environments\u2014spaces where millions of people engage daily.<\/p>\n

Symposium Highlights<\/h2>\n

Day 1 \u2013 Dialogue, Innovation, and Technology in the Spotlight<\/h3>\n

The first day featured a dynamic programme of expert panels, keynote speeches, and a groundbreaking technology demonstration\u2014and was notably open to the public.<\/strong> This inclusive format brought together a diverse group of professionals working at the forefront of online youth protection and digital safety. Participants included cybersecurity specialists, gaming industry representatives, policy experts, state representatives, educators, social workers, and members of the gaming community, including gamers themselves. Their presence highlighted the symposium\u2019s commitment to a genuinely multi-stakeholder approach<\/strong>\u2014one that values the insights of those directly shaping, safeguarding, and navigating the online spaces where millions of people engage every day.<\/p>\n

Opening remarks were delivered by key figures who set the tone for a forward-looking and collaborative event. Maria Gavouneli<\/strong>, Director General of ELIAMEP, welcomed participants with a strong message on the importance of cross-sector dialogue<\/strong>. Maja Halilovic-Pastuovic<\/strong>, Coordinator of the GEMS Project, emphasized the project\u2019s innovative vision<\/strong> and its relevance to current digital challenges. Ioannis Armakolas<\/strong>, Head of ELIAMEP\u2019s GEMS team and Coordinator of the European Network Against Gaming-Related Extremism (ENgaGE), underscored the symposium\u2019s role in building a united European response<\/strong> to emerging digital threats.<\/p>\n

The agenda was launched by Antigoni Giannakaki<\/strong>, Vice Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCSA)<\/strong> of Greece, who set the tone with a powerful keynote on Gaming and Cybersecurity. You can access the full speech by Ms. Giannakaki on the official website of the NCSA, by clicking here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Panel 1 \u2013 Dealing with Extremist Exploitation of Gaming Ecosystems<\/h4>\n

This opening panel explored how extremist groups exploit gaming platforms to disseminate propaganda and recruit youth. Speakers discussed emerging tactics\u2014such as in-game messaging and gamified narratives and called for coordinated, cross-sectoral responses to detect and disrupt such activities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Panelists:<\/strong>
\nMarketa Sonkova (European Commission), Jonathan Russell (Violence Prevention Network), Ann Becker (Video Games Europe), Daniela Pisoiu (SCENOR, Austria), and Suraj Lakhani (VOX-Pol \/ University of Sussex).<\/p>\n

Panel 2 \u2013 Bridging the Gaps: Vulnerabilities in Gaming Spaces<\/h4>\n

Focusing on protection and cybercrime prevention, this panel addressed systemic vulnerabilities and the need for tailored training, regulation, and community involvement.<\/strong>
\nSpeakers also highlighted the importance of designing safer gaming environments<\/strong> and improving coordination among child protection, law enforcement, and industry.<\/p>\n

Panelists:<\/strong>
\nSebastian Flick and Sarah Herrmann (Federal Agency for the Protection of Children and Youth in the Media (BzKJ), Germany), Paulo Vaz (CEPOL), Aimilia Doukeli (Hellenic Police \u2013 Cyberkid), and Jari-Peka Kaleva (EGDF, Sweden).<\/p>\n

Live Demonstration \u2013 Watchtower Tool: AI in Counter-Extremism<\/h4>\n

A milestone for the GEMS Project, the Watchtower Tool<\/strong> was unveiled by Maja Halilovic-Pastuovic<\/strong> and Meem Arafat Manab<\/strong>. This AI-powered platform is designed to support European law enforcement and gaming companies in real-time detection and prevention of extremist activity within gaming environments.<\/p>\n

Panel 3 \u2013 From Pixels to Protection: Law Enforcement Agencies & Gaming Stakeholders<\/h4>\n

This panel brought together voices from law enforcement and the gaming industry to share practical, on-the-ground approaches<\/strong> to identifying and responding to extremist content within gaming platforms. Discussions emphasized the growing relevance of public\u2013private partnerships<\/strong>, the need for shared intelligence frameworks<\/strong>, and the development of tools tailored to the unique dynamics of gaming environments. Panelists shared national experiences, best practices, and challenges in countering radicalisation within digital games, including how investigative units cooperate with platform providers to detect and respond to threats while respecting users\u2019 rights.<\/p>\n

Panelists:<\/strong>
\nRob Out (AgSKK, Germany), Ken Behets (Local Police Rupel, Belgium), Mikkel B\u00f8geskov Eriksen (Danish Police), Anders Nestius (Swedish Police), Konstantinos Kavrakis (Hellenic Police), and Paris Laras (Game Developers Association Greece).
\nModerator: Darren Martin (An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Ireland)<\/p>\n

Panel 4 \u2013 Sister Projects Spotlight: GEMS & SMIDGE Join Forces<\/h4>\n

This joint panel brought together experts from Horizon Europe-funded projects addressing radicalisation in gaming environments. The session showcased cutting-edge research and methodologies<\/strong> from GEMS, SMIDGE, and related initiatives, highlighting the added value of cross-project collaboration <\/strong>within the Horizon Europe framework. Speakers shared insights on early detection tools, prevention strategies, and policy engagement, emphasizing the importance of data sharing<\/strong>, interdisciplinary cooperation<\/strong>, and shared learning<\/strong> across initiatives working at the intersection of gaming and extremism.<\/p>\n

Panelists:<\/strong>
\nBj\u00f8rn Ihler (Revontulet \/ Khalifa Ihler Institute), Petra Regeni (RUSI Europe), Sara Wilford (SMIDGE \u2013 De Montfort University), Matthias Heider (RadiGaMe \u2013 IDZ), Lily Vicente (UN Counter-Terrorism Centre \u2013 UNCCT), and Charlotte Kathe (Moonshot \u2013 GEMS).
\nModerator: Ritsa Panagiotou, Senior Research Fellow, ELIAMEP<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Day 2 \u2013 Shaping the Activities and the Future of ENgaGE: Strategy, Needs, Sustainability & Stakeholder Synergy<\/h2>\n

The second day of the ENgaGE Symposium, held on Friday, 27 June 2025, was a closed-door session dedicated exclusively to ENgaGE network members and invited speakers<\/strong>. Designed as a strategic planning forum<\/strong>, this intimate gathering played a pivotal role in shaping the network\u2019s future activities, setting priorities, and deepening collaboration among key stakeholders.<\/p>\n

The day began with introductory remarks by Ioannis Armakolas (Senior Research Fellow & GEMS Project Team Leader, ELIAMEP) and Bledar Feta (Research Fellow, GEMS Project Team, ELIAMEP), who outlined the session\u2019s objectives and agenda.<\/p>\n

The programme was structured around two interactive sessions, both informed by the results of an online needs assessment survey conducted among ENgaGE members and Symposium participants in the weeks leading up to the event:<\/p>\n