EMPOWERING WOMEN BORDER SECURITY
Beyond the screen Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used for corrupt means, with criminals often ahead of the game when it comes to digital evolution – and it’s having a significant impact on crime levels and policing
By Catherine De Bolle, executive director, Europol
T he persisting unrest in many areas of the world, the exploitation of social media and of the (dark) web and the possible use of artificial intelligence by criminal actors all play into the wider picture of how malicious threats relentlessly evolve. Criminals make the best of digital tools to boost their proceeds and keep their illegal activities undetected; terrorists maximise the impact of their attacks through the web, by spreading fear and attracting new recruits. Changes can be sudden and impactful. The pandemic challenged us in many ways, including by needing to respond to an uncharted criminal landscape, where the use of internet and online applications leapt forward to an unexpected degree. Criminals adapted quickly and the law enforcement community was forced to chase the change, adapting its modus operandi, guaranteeing business continuity while preserving its officers’ health, quickly pooling and concentrating resources where more were needed. The mission was accomplished. Nevertheless, we need to remember the lessons we learnt, to ensure the sustainability of police work in the digital age and to concentrate on our ability to foresee changes. SUSTAINABILITY OF POLICE WORK – THE CASE FOR BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION Modern police work is based on processing large amounts of data; manual processing is not viable or actionable at scale. Law enforcement relies on tools to process large datasets and legislative frameworks that strike a fair balance between effective police work and the safeguard of fundamental rights. Among the applications that AI offers, biometric identification (including facial recognition) bears high potential for police work, from the prevention of terrorist attacks in public spaces to real-time investigations of crimes against minors. Facial recognition encompasses two distinct applications: real-time and post-event biometric identification, separately regulated under the AI Act adopted recently by the European Parliament. Real-time remote biometric identification is, in principle, prohibited, although permitted in specific exceptions. Large-scale events, which draw vast numbers of attendees and present unique security challenges, often serve as critical testing grounds for the application of such
The global nature of the internet enables criminals to operate across jurisdictions without physically crossing borders
70
G7 ITALY: THE APULIA SUMMIT — 2024
globalgovernanceproject.org
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease