ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY: GOVERNING AI-ENABLED COUNTERTERRORISM IN TELECOM NETWORKS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly becoming central to national security strategies, particularlyin counterterrorism applications across global telecommunications networks. While high-income nations haveestablished frameworks to regulate and govern AI-enabled surveillance and threat detection, the Global Southfaces unique challenges tied to sovereignty, dependency, and security. The proliferation of AI tools forcounterterrorism in telecom networks introduces risks of misalignment between global technology providers andlocal governance systems, often leading to geopolitical dependency and uneven power dynamics. At a broaderlevel, issues of algorithmic bias, data sovereignty, and ethical oversight raise concerns about the capacity of GlobalSouth states to retain control over AI deployment without compromising civil liberties or national autonomy.Narrowing down, the governance of AI-enabled counterterrorism requires not only the development of robustdomestic regulatory frameworks but also the establishment of multilateral cooperation to prevent technologicalmonopolization by global powers. Telecom networks, being critical infrastructures, demand heightenedsafeguards to ensure that AI systems deployed for threat detection and monitoring operate transparently, respectdata protection standards, and align with local sociopolitical contexts. This study emphasizes the intersection ofsovereignty, security, and governance in shaping AI-enabled counterterrorism frameworks in the Global South.By situating AI adoption within broader debates on digital colonialism and security governance, it argues forparticipatory policymaking, capacity building, and the institutionalization of accountability mechanisms to ensureequitable and sustainable integration of AI into telecom-based counterterrorism systems. Ultimately, reinforcingsovereignty in AI governance is essential for protecting both national security interests and the democraticlegitimacy of states in the Global South.