GEMS @ EUROPOL. 16-17 September 2025. EU–Japan Law Enforcement Study Visit: Next-Level Policing – Terrorism and Gaming Platforms

Event Name: EU–Japan Law Enforcement Study Visit: Next-Level Policing – Terrorism and Gaming Platforms

Date: 16–17 September 2025

Location: Europol Headquarters, The Hague, Netherlands

Organisers: ESIWA+, Europol, EU Knowledge Hub

NPA and GEMS Team's Photo-op

The GEMS Project participated in the EU–Japan Law Enforcement Study Visit on “Next-Level Policing – Terrorism and Gaming Platforms,” held at Europol Headquarters in The Hague on 16–17 September 2025. The visit brought together European and Japanese law enforcement agencies, EU officials, and Horizon Europe project representatives to address evolving threats in the nexus of gaming, radicalisation, and online extremism. Representing GEMS were Maja Halilovic-Pastuovic (TCD, Coordinator, GEMS Project), Rob Out (AGSKK, WP3 Lead, GEMS Project), Neven Vukic (TCD, Project Manager, GEMS), Darren Martin (An Garda Síochána), and Meem Arafat Manab (UPM Madrid/TCD, Lead Developer of the Watchtower Tool).

The programme opened with a presentation by the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan, outlining its structure, operational priorities, and case studies in countering online radicalisation. This was followed by a briefing from the EU Internet Referral Unit (IRU), which detailed Europol’s coordination role in combating terrorist propaganda, with a special focus on the evolving Europol Gaming Task Force. Later, the Europol Innovation Lab presented forward-looking tools and methodologies that support European law enforcement in the digital domain.

The second day began with the GEMS Project Findings and a live demonstration of the Watchtower Tool, presented by Halilovic-Pastuovic, Vukic, Martin, and Manab. The tool’s real-time detection capabilities, designed to support law enforcement and industry actors in countering extremist exploitation of gaming environments, generated strong interest among participants. This was followed by a presentation on the European Network Against Gaming-Related Extremism (ENgaGE) and the results of GEMS’ engagement with law enforcement agencies, focusing on training needs and practitioner perspectives across Europe. The visit concluded with a session delivered by experts from the Berlin State Police (LKA 53), who examined misogyny, far-right extremism, and conspiracy narratives in gaming-related spaces, highlighting ongoing German research into the intersection of radicalisation and digital services.

The study visit was well organised and marked by warm hospitality from Europol, whose professionalism ensured constructive exchanges and smooth coordination throughout. The GEMS consortium is confident that its contribution to this visit will serve as a basis for deeper cooperation not only within Europe but also between the EU and Japan, and looks forward to further opportunities to strengthen collaboration in this vital area of security.