On June 6-7th, under the AI for Safer Children initiative, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), through its Centre for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), conducted a regional training in Singapore. The training brought together over 80 law enforcement participants from the Singapore Police Force, as well as India, Indonesia and Brunei.
During the two-day event, participants explored the application of various AI tools and techniques throughout an investigative workflow, including victim and suspect identification. They benefited from presentations delivered by numerous guest experts and technology providers, including representatives of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), ECPAT International, Epieos, Kaseware, Securium, Semantics21 and iCOP. Additionally, the Singapore Police Force shared their experiences and insights, along with the Child Protection Centre of the UAE.
As one participant concluded: “I truly enjoyed the training and learned a lot from it. I also had the opportunity to explore additional software that will greatly aid in the investigation process, particularly in the identification of victims.”
While there are currently many accessible tools and technology providers that are eager to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, the potential of these resources is often not widely known within law enforcement community. This lack of awareness can be attributed to various factors, including the rapid development of AI, limited resources, and restrictions on sharing classified information.
The AI for Safer Children initiative aims to bridge this gap through its online platform, the AI for Safer Children Global Hub. This platform serves as a meeting place for law enforcement agencies and provides a comprehensive catalogue of currently available AI tools, along with guidance on their responsible implementation in investigations related to child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Global Hub showcases over 70 AI tools and has already engaged over 350 investigators from 89 countries. Any country within this network can request specialized training on AI for Safer Children, as well as follow-up training sessions free of charge. The UNICRI Centre for AI and Robotics is committed to the sustainable capacity building of law enforcement agencies in this crucial area.
For additional information, and to join the Global Hub if you are law enforcement, please click here.
