GEMS @ EU Knowledge Hub. 23–24 June 2026

Event Name: Thematic Panel 3 – Meeting 6: Levelling Up Prevention: Innovative Responses to Violent Extremism in Gaming Ecosystems

Date: 23–24 June 2026

Location: St Julian’s, Malta

Organisers: EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation / European Commission

The Horizon Europe GEMS Project participated in Thematic Panel 3 – Meeting 6 of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation, titled “Levelling Up Prevention: Innovative Responses to Violent Extremism in Gaming Ecosystems.”

The GEMS Project was represented by Ioannis Armakolas, Vasiliki Kotsikopoulou, Bledar Feta and Neven Vukić. The team contributed to the workshop by sharing insights from the project’s research and practice-oriented work, and by participating in the meeting’s discussions and activities.

The meeting brought together prevention practitioners and experts to examine how violent extremist and terrorist actors may exploit gaming platforms and related digital spaces to disseminate harmful narratives, facilitate recruitment and contribute to radicalisation pathways. Discussions also explored how gaming environments can be used positively to strengthen resilience, support healthy identity development and contribute to prevention efforts.

GEMS appreciated the opportunity to contribute to this important exchange and to support ongoing EU-level efforts to develop evidence-informed, proportionate and practical prevention responses in gaming ecosystems.