AI for Safer Children Global Hub
AI for Safer Children Global Hub
Summary
The AI for Safer Children Global Hub is a unique platform for law enforcement accessible via a secure log-in, where investigators can access information about an extensive catalogue of cutting-edge AI tools that can be used to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, along with detailed guidance on how to implement various AI tools to facilitate their workflow in an ethical and human rights compliant manner. The Global Hub seeks to build law enforcement capacities worldwide to leverage the positive potential of AI to prevent, detect and prosecute child sexual exploitation and abuse. To that end, the Global Hub’s main features include:
▪ AI Tools Catalogue: provides law enforcement users with information on the range of currently available AI tools and filters to help identify potential tools that meet their specific needs.
▪ Learning Centre: enables law enforcement agents to learn more about how to implement AI to improve their workflow and rescue children faster, detailing various investigation techniques and how to safeguard their mental wellbeing.
▪ Meet Other Officers: strengthens communication and networking within the global law enforcement community combatting child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Target population
The Global Hub is accessible to all law enforcement agents and investigators worldwide working to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, and to those interested in or already using AI in their work. This includes, but is not limited to, investigators, forensics experts, senior police officials, procurement officers and information technology (IT) experts – no matter the level of technical skill or prior experience with AI tools they may possess. The Global Hub is available in all UN official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Join the AI for Safer Children Global Hub Joining the Global Hub is easy, fast and free. To do so, law enforcement agents may click the link below to complete a short questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/r/NjAUz0ZmZX
Delivery organisation
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. The Centre’s mission is to advance understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technology with a special focus on the aspects of crime, justice and other threats to security.
Mode and context of delivery
An online platform – the “AI for Safer Children Global Hub” – where law enforcement agents can access a database of AI tools that are available to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as communicate with each other and learn how to use these tools responsibly. Conducting capacity-building activities including specialized trainings both face-to-face and online which adapt the information in the Global Hub to the needs and interests of regional or local law enforcement, augmented with demonstrations and presentations from technology companies and Advisory Board members of the AI for Safer Children initiative.
Level/Nature of staff expertise required (e.g. professional background)
The AI for Safer Children trainers include a mix of subject-matter experts from the UN, other international organizations, digital forensic experts and AI tool developers.
Intensity/extent of engagement with target group(s)
Access to the Global Hub is unlimited, and trainings last on average two days with the continued possibility of follow-up or spinoff trainings.
Description of intervention
The AI for Safer Children initiative was launched in 2020 by UNICRI, through its Centre for AI and Robotics, in partnership with the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This initiative seeks to build the capacity of law enforcement agencies worldwide to tackle crimes of child sexual exploitation and abuse through the use of frontier technologies, specifically artificial intelligence (AI).
The three pillars of the initiative envisioned to accomplish this goal are, firstly, raising awareness of the positive potential of AI for investigations involving child abuse material; secondly, developing the AI for Safer Children Global Hub online platform; and finally, conducting specialized AI for Safer Children trainings as an extension of the Global Hub. To date, all three activities have been carefully developed and rolled out.
In July 2022, the AI for Safer Children Global Hub went live, available in all six UN official languages where investigators working on crimes against children can access information about more than 80 cutting-edge AI tools, including their cost, functionality, and implementation process. As of February 2024, more than 700 investigators from law enforcement agencies in 107 countries across the globe have joined, with the growing membership fostering international collaboration and communication. After integrating AI tools into their workflows, law enforcement officers commended the technologies on the Global Hub for significantly reducing analysis time, cutting forensic backlogs, and minimizing the emotional toll on investigators dealing with sensitive materials.
The AI for Safer Children initiative goes beyond facilitating access to AI tools; it actively contributes to building law enforcement capacity through specialized training programs. From May 2023, these trainings were made available free of charge to any Member State and have significantly benefited 1,446 investigators from 24 countries, including Singapore, Ukraine, Bahrain, the UK, Zimbabwe and the Caribbean region. More trainings are scheduled for 2024 in yet more countries from across the world. These trainings are tailored to the specific needs and contexts of participating law enforcement agencies, and can be both online or in-person, regional and local. By imparting essential skills and knowledge, these sessions empower law enforcement professionals to adeptly integrate AI into their investigative workflows, ensuring the effective utilization of cutting-edge technology and its responsible application in combating crimes against children. Technology providers and relevant stakeholders are routinely welcomed to give guest presentations and demonstrations to add their expertise to these trainings.
Such effective utilization involves the crucial component of using AI tools in a human rights compliant and ethical manner, so the sessions present to officers the Toolkit for Responsible AI Innovation in Law Enforcement developed by UNICRI, together with INTERPOL. This AI Toolkit consists of a collection of practically oriented resources that support law enforcement at any level or jurisdiction to tap into AI responsibly while mitigating its risks. This approach ensures that law enforcement agencies are wellequipped to navigate the evolving landscape of child sexual exploitation and abuse in complete alignment with currently available responsible AI practices to allow for sustainable use of these technologies.
Evaluation
As of February 2024, a total of nine trainings have already been conducted for 24 countries and 1,446 law enforcement participants. Due to the sensitive and ongoing nature of child sexual abuse investigations, the details of how AI supports law enforcement are not always available. Nevertheless, participants have rated the AI for Safer Children trainings highly, for instance calling them “the most professional, comprehensive, and approachable training I have had the pleasure of participating in on the subject of AI tools for law enforcement” (Canadian police) and that “before, I was not convinced to use this technology, but today I will start” (Bahrain police).
References
UNICRI article, June 2023 – AI for Safer Children: the trainings have commenced.
Forbes article, December 2023 – Revolutionizing Child Protection: The UN And UAE’s Groundbreaking AI For Safer Children Collaboration.
Contact details
Headquarters Alexanderveld 5
2585 DB The Hague
The Netherlands