by Kevin Pope, CEO, PenLink
For as long as they’ve existed, law enforcement agencies globally have contended with the ever-evolving criminal landscape. While the digital age has presented investigators with an array of powerful tools to address evolving crime, it also introduced new intricate challenges that demand adept navigation.
Looking ahead, technology will continue to reshape and modernize law enforcement strategies to prevent ongoing threats, fight crime and ultimately deliver justice. Emerging advancements will equip officers with the intelligence and information needed to combat the next generation of criminals.
From funding priorities to new ways to uncover evidence, here’s a look at six ways digital investigations will change in 2024 and beyond:
- Investment in Tech to Support Current Criminal Investigations: Law enforcement agencies will dedicate more budget to technology that can not only prevent crimes proactively but also help solve existing investigations. As the criminal investigation landscape evolves, local governments will invest more resources in researching and implementing tech to support investigations. According to the Police Executive Research Forum, agencies are losing officers faster than they can hire new ones. As agencies work through these staffing shortages, introducing technology that can help scale investigations will be critical to the success of their operations. As local governments focus on rehiring efforts, we are sure to see a major investment in digital resources to help aid operations in the interim.
- GenAI Integration for Expedited Case Resolution: As researchers and professionals from many industries explore the proper usage of GenAI, the law enforcement community will also look to tap into its potential. In the next year, investigators will look for ways to leverage emerging technology to speed up investigations. Specifically, we will see GenAI propelling investigations forward - enabling investigators to auto-download evidentiary data instead of having to manually sift through it. From automatic translation and transcription of historical content to live collection, GenAI will support analyzing data more quickly and helping combat criminals leveraging the technology for illegal purposes.
- Collaborative Crime Solving and Information Sharing: In 2024, information sharing between federal and local jurisdictions and agencies will gain traction. By deconflicting data, investigators can improve cross-agency information-sharing and "work smarter, not harder." Embracing cutting-edge technology to expedite information sharing will be essential to remaining competitive in today's complex investigative landscape. Leveraging existing data can support solving investigations faster and identify repeat offenders across networks and systems. Information sharing will be vital to combatting and preventing future criminal activity.
- AI Augmentation to Alleviate Employee Burnout: The rise of emerging technologies promises enhanced productivity, but it comes at a critical juncture. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend report, 48% of employees are grappling with workplace burnout. Combine this with the ongoing staff shortages that we've seen in the past several years, and it becomes clear that supporting employees is critical. That’s where AI comes in – over the next year, we will see departments investing in technology to support their staff. Teams will utilize AI to supplement personnel shortages by taking on time-consuming tasks like gathering and analyzing data and reviewing sensitive images faster. This shift will not only help expedite investigations, but it will also improve personnel experience and help to decrease burnout on the jobs.
- The Emergence of OSINT as a Vital Investigative Tool: Open source intelligence (OSINT) will make waves in criminal investigations in 2024. The sheer volume of data available poses a challenge to analysts, making it difficult for them to determine what they can subpoena. This is where OSINT will become essential, providing a tool that law enforcement can work with to quickly uncover intelligence on potential leads to support their evidentiary data. In the coming years, we will continue to see more and more departments utilizing OSINT to uncover illegal activity or behaviors, helping discover evidence critical to investigations.
- New Forms of Data will Take Center Stage: According to recent data, Americans look at their phones more than 160 times a day. With people spending an exorbitant amount of time on their phones, criminals are undoubtedly looking for ways to use this to their advantage. As criminals evolve to use social platforms to conduct illicit activities, data from emerging social media platforms will provide a wealth of knowledge to investigators. For example, data from ride-share platforms to financial apps can help determine where criminal activity occurs. It will be essential that investigators are well-versed in the latest social media platforms to innovatively uncover illegal activity, such as tracking illegal contraband being shipped and tracked via popular delivery services or using Netflix search history to track criminal behavior. In 2024, investigators will identify new forms of data from emerging platforms to track down critical evidence.
While certain aspects of the future remain uncertain, an agency’s commitment to safeguarding communities against crime needs to remain unwavering. The current state of digital investigations shows that investing time and resources into emerging tech will be critical to scaling criminal investigations. From OSINT to AI, various forms of emerging technology will prove to be the linchpin to efficiently solving future investigations, making it essential to focus the necessary time and resources on these new forms of tech.
As we step into the new year, proactively foreseeing the evolving requirements of law enforcement and intelligence communities will be pivotal for successful investigations and ensuring safer communities.