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Work For Idle Thumbs? Violent Extremism, AI, and 3D Printing (10.06.25)

Date of session:  Tuesday 10th June 2025

Time of session:  3:45pm to 5:15pm

Suitable for: Anyone working with young people aged 11+ in an educational setting, including DSLs, secondary school and FE teachers, youth workers, and apprenticeship providers.

Summary: Violent extremists and terrorists are quick to experiment with the use of new and emerging technologies. This free briefing session will explore the misuse of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and 3D Printing. Many schools and colleges are encouraging or teaching their students to explore the legitimate potential of these exciting tools – but how can educators ensure a student’s interests in such areas are legitimate?

This briefing will offer an accessible introduction to GAI and 3D printing, and use detailed case study analysis to demonstrate how both are subject to misuse by extremists for activities such as propaganda creation and the manufacture of craft firearms and other weapons. The briefing will conclude with suggestions regarding how educators might be able to identify situations in which a radicalised individual might be misusing this technology for potentially harmful applications.

Book your free place now

Guest Speaker: Richard Evans, Director of Candour Intelligence  

Richard is the founder and Director of Candour Intelligence Ltd, an extremism knowledge organisation. He specialises in the investigation, monitoring, and exploitation of extremist and terrorist online discourse, and the study of how extremists use online platforms to propagate their narratives and radicalise their audiences.
 
He has over 20 years of experience supporting staff in government, defence, and law enforcement to develop an enhanced operational understanding of their extremist adversary. As Director of Candour Intelligence, Richard delivers intelligence support, education, and professional development services concerning extremist ideologies, extremist online discourse, and extremist use of social media.
 
Richard was formerly an Associate Director in Janes Intelligence Unit (JIU), part of Jane’s Group UK Ltd, the defence and national security information business founded in 1898. In this role he was responsible for the delivery of directed online research activities focused on observing extremist online communities and assisting the public sector in improving their understanding of extremist ideologies.