RIYADH – Iran’s science minister warned on Wednesday that widespread surveillance using artificial intelligence could turn control over data into control over people and create an “invisible dictatorship,” speaking at a UNESCO forum in Riyadh.
Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hussein Simaei told the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI (GFEAI 2026) that technology is not neutral and AI does not act justly on its own.
“Algorithms sometimes destroy more than they build, and platforms can become a source of harm instead of development,” he said, according to a report by IRNA.
Simaei said AI can transform control over data into control over humans, adding: “Even surveillance must have limits. The more transparency and oversight over governments and those in power, the better. But when surveillance targets ordinary citizens and tracks their behavior, relationships and intentions, it can become a kind of ‘invisible dictatorship.’”
He pointed to an ethical responsibility for platforms and technology developers over AI applications, saying: “Today, data is used in actions that violate human rights and even lead to the killing of children. The serious question is whether AI platforms bear responsibility for how their technologies are used.”
Simaei said many chatbots refuse to answer questions about suicide, calling this correct, but noted that AI can also be used to precisely identify and target humans with missiles. 
He referenced an American terrorist attack on a school in the Iranian city of Minab that martyred 168 students during their studies, saying deep reflection is needed to find solutions.
The minister identified inequality
 as another major challenge of the AI era, warning that AI may widen gaps more than any previous technology. He said an ethical framework must not only prevent harm but also guarantee equal access.
“Developing countries must have the opportunity to build their own AI systems suited to their languages and cultures, and international organizations have an ethical responsibility to help achieve this,” Simaei said. “Technology must serve humanity, and AI must expand human freedom, not restrict it.”
Asked about Iran’s top priority for responsible AI capacity, Simaei said that before June 2025 his answer would have been targeted investment in water and energy, followed by strengthening cooperation within Iran’s AI ecosystem.
He added that Iran has capable universities, prominent researchers, knowledge-based companies and specialized policy and technical institutions, calling for mechanisms for effective cooperation, data exchange and shared infrastructure.
Simaei stressed a shift in regional priorities: “Today I believe the most important priority, not only for Iran but for the entire region, is lifting unilateral coercive measures and establishing peace. These sanctions are unethical, and establishing security and peace is an ethical necessity.”
The forum runs from Sept 14 to 17 in Riyadh, organized with UNESCO, Saudi Arabia’s Data and AI Authority and the International Center for Research and Ethics in AI.