This study explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping digital diplomacy, public relations, and security dynamics across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. By integrating AI-driven analytics with social media monitoring, the research emphasizes how machine learning and algorithmic tools redefine information dissemination mechanisms, influence political narratives, and enhance cybersecurity frameworks. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of digital communication patterns with quantitative data on user perceptions of online security, surveillance, and self-censorship. The findings reveal that AI-enabled technologies-such as automated content moderation, sentiment analysis, and predictive modeling-serve as double-edged instruments: while they empower governments and institutions to counter disinformation, manage crises, and engage global audiences, they also raise concerns about algorithmic bias, digital surveillance, and privacy violations. In the MENA context, AI facilitates both strategic narrative control and participatory engagement, reflecting the tension between innovation and constraint in authoritarian environments. The research highlights that over 68% of surveyed users expressed fear of surveillance, and over 70% practiced self-censorship, illustrating the pervasive impact of AI monitoring on civic discourse. Ultimately, the study concludes that the future of digital diplomacy in MENA depends on adopting AI-driven but ethically governed communication strategies-balancing security imperatives with transparency, inclusivity, and digital rights. This work contributes to the emerging scholarship on AI in international communication, proposing a framework for responsible AI integration that protects user autonomy while strengthening national and regional stability.
Tomić et al. (Thu,) studied this question.