Public lecture on AI and Digital Tools for the Safeguarding of Culture in the Era of Conflict

By Stefano Crescenzi (Italian Foreign Office & Visiting Researcher at Strathclyde Law School)

Monday 17 March 2025, 11am, LH127, ground floor of Lord Hope Building

The evolution of warfare has placed both tangible and digital cultural property at risk, necessitating new strategies for protection. Digital cultural heritage, as recognized under Rule 142 of the Tallinn Manual 2.0, requires proactive safeguarding against cyber threats.

Additionally, AI and machine learning play an increasingly significant role in warfare, particularly through autonomous weapon systems (AWS), raising legal and ethical concerns. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stresses the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI-driven decisions, especially in lethal contexts.

Cyber warfare further complicates the application of international humanitarian law (IHL), with critical infrastructure, such as healthcare, becoming frequent targets. Ethical AI principles from organizations like the OECD and Beijing AI Principles emphasize fairness, transparency, and accountability.

To address these challenges, states must collaborate to establish effective regulatory frameworks ensuring that AI and cyber technologies align with humanitarian principles and international law.

Stefano Crescenzi currently serves as the Deputy Head of the Unit for the Promotion of Italy at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Previously, he was posted to the Italian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, handling humanitarian affairs, migration, international humanitarian law, and regional crises. He also served as Deputy Ambassador to Georgia and worked as a consultant on religious freedom at the Italian government. 

The lecture is open to the public and will be broadcasted on Zoom. If you are from outside of Strathclyde and/or would like a Zoom link, please confirm your attendance with Mirosław Sadowski at miroslaw.sadowski@strath.ac.uk.