Repression in the Age of AI: A Discussion with Rushan Abbas

The Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS), in collaboration with Optimum Publishing International, is pleased to host a discussion with Rushan Abbas on the growing challenge of transnational repression in the digital age and the ways emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, are reshaping authoritarian influence beyond national borders.

A prominent Uyghur-American activist and leading advocate for Uyghur human rights, Ms. Abbas has become one of the most recognized voices exposing the Chinese government’s repression of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples. Her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, has been imprisoned by Chinese authorities since 2018 in what has been widely viewed as retaliation for Ms. Abbas’s advocacy efforts.

The discussion will examine how authoritarian governments increasingly use surveillance technologies, censorship, digital intimidation, and transnational pressure campaigns to silence critics abroad and shape global narratives. Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, and members of the public, the event aims to foster informed dialogue on the intersection of technology, authoritarianism, and international security.

Speakers

Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs

Moderator: TBD

Event Details

Location: TBD

Date: June 22, 2026

Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Format: In-person discussion held under Chatham House Rule.