Artificial Genius: Australian Police Rely On Ai To Tackle Digital Crime Wave

Australian Federal Police Leans on AI to Combat Digital Crimes Amid Vast Data Deluge

The Australian federal police (AFP) is relying heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) to sift through and analyze seized phones, emails, and other digital assets as investigations increasingly involve massive amounts of data. The agency’s reliance on AI comes with the staggering scale of the data it handles – an average of 40 terabytes per investigation, with over 58,000 referrals annually at its child exploitation centre.

According to Benjamin Lamont, AFP manager for technology strategy and data, the use of AI is not only necessary but also unavoidable. “It’s beyond human scale,” he noted during a Microsoft AI conference in Sydney. “We need to lean into it heavily.” The AFP is utilizing various AI tools, including Copilot AI assistant technology, to develop its own custom solutions.

One notable example of this is the translation of 6 million emails in Spanish and the examination of 7,000 hours of video footage. While human analysts can only process a fraction of this data, AI can quickly and efficiently sift through vast amounts of information. Lamont emphasized that AI is essential for streamlining the processing of obtained files, making it easier for officers to identify potential evidence.

The AFP’s use of AI extends beyond simple data analysis. The agency is working on developing AI-powered tools to detect deepfake images, quarantine and analyze sensitive data in secure environments, and even generate text summaries of images or videos to prevent officers from being exposed to graphic content before viewing it.

However, the AFP has faced criticism over its use of AI, particularly with regards to facial recognition services like Clearview AI. Lamont acknowledged that “we haven’t always got it right” but emphasized the importance of ongoing evaluation and improvement. The agency has established a responsible technology committee to assess emerging technologies and ensure their integration is both ethical and responsible.

Lamont stressed the importance of having a human in the loop when making decisions informed by AI use, ensuring that officers are aware of the technology’s limitations and potential biases. As the AFP continues to explore the vast potential of AI, it is also grappling with the need for transparency and accountability.

The AFP’s reliance on AI raises questions about the future of digital investigations and the role of technology in law enforcement.