Context
A growing number of law enforcement agencies worldwide rely on AI systems to support their work through image analysis, text and speech analysis, risk evaluation and predictive analytics, content generation, process optimisation and workflow automation. However, in the absence of safety measures, any wrongful or controversial use of AI systems can severely impact human rights, harm society, and erode public trust in law enforcement. A range of regulatory strategies are beginning to emerge across the globe, but such strategies differ in their legislative approach and are also not focused exclusively on law enforcement’s application of AI.
To navigate the challenges and benefit from the opportunities presented by AI and provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary knowledge and capabilities, UNICRI and INTERPOL have built and fostered a unique forum for law enforcement to explore AI innovation and responsible AI approaches. In 2023, UNICRI and INTERPOL, with the support of the EU, released the Toolkit for Responsible Artificial Intelligence Innovation in Law Enforcement (the AI Toolkit) as a key resource for the international law enforcement community.
Overall objective
AI-POL aims to further advance and globally embed the concept of responsible AI innovation in law enforcement.
Specific objectives
- To provide executive leadership in the targeted law enforcement agencies with the knowledge and capacities required to embrace responsible AI innovation practices.
- To increase awareness on ways to implement the guidance contained in the AI Toolkit among the broader law enforcement and counter-terrorism community
- To engage the community around the use of AI in law enforcement to build public trust.
- To enhance awareness of responsible AI innovation in law enforcement and the AI Toolkit.
Concrete activities
- Executive leadership engagement and capacity building, including workshops on responsible AI innovation in law enforcement for executive-level participants in selected countries and a leadership training course.
- Facilitation of organisational readiness assessments for adopting AI practices and guidance to agencies on developing responsible AI innovation strategies.
- National workshops and a global session to enhance understanding of responsible AI in counter-terrorism.
- Organisation of a focus group and implementation of two pilot initiatives with selected countries to explore and test strategies for fostering public trust and transparency in the use of AI by law enforcement.
- A public-facing global campaign to promote awareness of responsible AI practices in policing and enhance community engagement.
- Project duration
- 1 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep 2027
- Project locations
- BrazilIndiaNigeriaOmanUzbekistan
- Overall budget
- €2 000 000
- Threat area
- Counter-Terrorism, Prevention of Violent Extremism
- Fight against Organised Crime
Results
Through AI-POL, the concept of responsible AI innovation in law enforcement will be further advanced and globally fostered by achieving the following results:
- Developed capacity required for responsible AI innovation by executive leadership in five participating law enforcement agencies, enabling them to implement the necessary processes and make informed budgetary decisions that support and sustain these practices.
- Increased awareness of how to implement the AI Toolkit guidance across the broader law enforcement and counter-terrorism community, combined with the development of tailor-made strategies based on organisational readiness assessments, will better equip participating agencies to adopt responsible AI practices suited to their specific needs and contexts.
- Increased community engagement by two of the participating agencies around the use of AI in law enforcement will be supported by focus group meetings on public trust and community engagement, providing actionable insights into effective ways to engage the public, build trust, and dispel common myths and misconceptions about AI in this context.
Developed awareness of responsible AI innovation in law enforcement and the AI Toolkit, supported through organisational readiness assessments, allowing participating agencies to gain insights into their current capabilities and weaknesses in adopting responsible AI practices, offering a clear overview of institutional readiness and identifying specific areas that require attention.