Lectures & Presentations
![NATO The Southern Talks - [VIDEO] Terrorist Financing, Cultural Looting and The Role of Social Media](https://atharproject.org/uploads/reports/featured-images/20261101032409_6ae6b0d9df2d6.webp)
NATO The Southern Talks - [VIDEO] Terrorist Financing, Cultural Looting and The Role of Social Media
In The Southern Talks #9: Terrorist Financing, Cultural Looting and the Role of Social Media, the discussion explores the connections between antiquities trafficking, terrorist financing, and digital platforms. It highlights how social media can facilitate the sale of looted cultural property and the challenges of disrupting illicit networks. The discussion aligns with ATHAR Project research, although I couldn't verify its specific contribution to the video.
![George Washington University Program on Extremism - [VIDEO] Terrorism Lawsuits Against Social Media Companies](https://atharproject.org/uploads/reports/featured-images/20261101032022_6ae6aff63858a.webp)
George Washington University Program on Extremism - [VIDEO] Terrorism Lawsuits Against Social Media Companies
In June 2024, Katie Paul, Co-Director of the ATHAR Project, participated in a George Washington University panel examining social media companies’ liability for facilitating terrorism. Drawing on ATHAR Project research, she highlighted how platforms enable terrorist organizations to profit from antiquities trafficking, recruit supporters, and spread propaganda, while legal protections and inadequate enforcement limit corporate accountability.
UNCTED and UNICRI - Virtual Expert Group Meeting on Cultural Heritage Smuggling and the Nexus with Terrorism
In March 2024, the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and UNICRI convened an expert meeting examining the links between antiquities trafficking and terrorism financing. ATHAR Project participated in discussions on how terrorist networks exploit social media to facilitate illicit sales and emphasized stronger international cooperation, technology company accountability, and improved investigations to combat cultural heritage trafficking.
Qatar National Library - The 2nd Doha Workshop on Countering the Trafficking of Cultural Property with a Focus on Documentary Heritage
In September 2023, Qatar National Library hosted the Second Doha Workshop on Countering the Trafficking of Cultural Property, bringing together international experts to address illicit trafficking and strengthen heritage protection. Amr Al-Azm, Co-Director of the ATHAR Project, delivered the workshop’s concluding session, emphasizing international cooperation and strategies to combat cultural property trafficking.
Qatar National Library - Alliance for the Education of Women ‘Removing Barriers’
In June 2023, Qatar National Library hosted an international meeting of the Alliance for the Education of Women in Afghanistan, addressing barriers to education and cultural heritage protection. Amr Al-Azm of the ATHAR Project participated in the Alliance’s heritage protection working group, supporting efforts to safeguard Afghan cultural property and combat illicit antiquities trafficking through education and international collaboration.
Victoria & Albert Museum - Post-Conflict Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle East and North Africa
In April 2023, the international conference Collaboration in Times of Crisis: Preserving Natural and Cultural Heritage convened in Tbilisi, Georgia, to examine heritage protection during conflict and crisis. Amr Al-Azm, Co-Director of the ATHAR Project, presented on the role of non-state actors in preserving cultural heritage during conflict, drawing on Syria as a case study to highlight the importance of collaboration and partnerships.
American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) - Antiquities Trafficking in the Age of Social Media: How Big Tech Facilitates and Profits from the Digital Black Market
In January 2023, Katie Paul presented “Antiquities Trafficking in the Age of Social Media” as part of ASOR’s webinar series. Drawing on ATHAR Project research, she examined how Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok facilitate and profit from illicit antiquities trafficking through algorithms, monetization tools, and inadequate enforcement, highlighting the need for greater technology company accountability.
![Everyday Orientalism - [VIDEO] The Gates 3: Ancient Studies, Heritage and War – #EOTalks panel](https://atharproject.org/uploads/reports/featured-images/20261101030734_6ae6acf64a685.webp)
Everyday Orientalism - [VIDEO] The Gates 3: Ancient Studies, Heritage and War – #EOTalks panel
In September 2022, Everyday Orientalism hosted Ancient Studies, Heritage and War, an international panel examining the impact of armed conflict on cultural heritage in Ukraine and the Middle East. Katie Paul and Amr Al-Azm, Co-Directors of the ATHAR Project, joined scholars to discuss archaeological looting, antiquities trafficking, heritage destruction, and challenges facing communities affected by war.
![UNCTED - [VIDEO] Threat and Trends The Traffic and Illicit Trade of Cultural Property for Terrorist Purposes](https://atharproject.org/uploads/reports/featured-images/20261101030319_6ae6abf7c4faa.webp)
UNCTED - [VIDEO] Threat and Trends The Traffic and Illicit Trade of Cultural Property for Terrorist Purposes
In September 2022, the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), UNESCO, and Italy hosted an expert roundtable examining antiquities trafficking and terrorism financing. ATHAR Project Co-directors discussed how terrorist groups exploit social media to facilitate illicit antiquities sales, emphasizing the role of technology companies and the need for stronger corporate accountability and enforcement.
![Carleton University and Cranfield Forensic Institute Cultural Heritage Crime Conference 2022 - [VIDEO] How Tech Companies and Antiquities Traffickers Profit](https://atharproject.org/uploads/reports/featured-images/20261101024106_6ae6a6c23b443.webp)
Carleton University and Cranfield Forensic Institute Cultural Heritage Crime Conference 2022 - [VIDEO] How Tech Companies and Antiquities Traffickers Profit
In July 2021, Cranfield University hosted the international Cultural Heritage Crime Conference, bringing together experts to examine antiquities trafficking, archaeological looting, art theft, and cultural heritage protection. Katie Paul of the ATHAR Project presented “The Digital Underworld for Looted Heritage,” exploring the role of digital platforms in facilitating the illicit antiquities trade and the growing challenges of combating online trafficking.
![American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) Early Career Scholars Research in Action - [VIDEO] “Social Media’s Antiquities Black Market” with Katie Paul](https://atharproject.org/uploads/reports/featured-images/20261101025403_6ae6a9cbf0dbc.webp)
American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR) Early Career Scholars Research in Action - [VIDEO] “Social Media’s Antiquities Black Market” with Katie Paul
In 2022, Katie Paul presented “Social Media’s Antiquities Black Market” as part of ASOR’s Early Career Scholars Research in Action series. Drawing on ATHAR Project research, the presentation examined how social media platforms facilitate the illicit antiquities trade, enabling looters and traffickers to reach global markets and creating new challenges for cultural heritage protection.
University College of London: Ethical Challenges in Researching (Il)licit Antiquities Seminar Series - How Trafficking Networks and Tech Companies Profit from the Online Black Market in Antiquities
In 2022, University College London’s Institute of Archaeology hosted a seminar series examining the ethical, legal, and political challenges of researching illicit antiquities. Katie Paul, Co-Director of the ATHAR Project, joined international experts to explore the complexities of antiquities trafficking, cultural heritage research, and the distinction between licit and illicit cultural property.