The metaverse can be wielded as a crucial tool in the hands of law enforcement agencies for training, crime prevention, and forensic analysis according to a new document released by Interpol.
The report by the international organization seeks to delve into the possibilities of the metaverse, harnessing the digital world to solve real-world problems around security and law enforcement.
In a new White Paper published today and launched at @wef, we’ve outlined the #Metaverse’s key challenges, threats and harms from a law enforcement perspective.https://t.co/khUFG3wT4p
— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) January 18, 2024
Interpol looks toward deploying the metaverse as a tool to usher in the future of crime prevention through several methods that involve the digitization of the process.
According to the report, virtual worlds will be used to create replicas of real-life crime scenes to aid authorities study and improving their analysis.
A new perspective on crime scenes
A major benefit of this is the preservation even after the actual crime scene has been altered leading to better investigation as no stone will be left unturned and all possible angles monitored.
Future integration of the metaverse into the legal systems in certain jurisdictions would enable judicial officers to visit sites virtually as in the case where they visit physically.
Technologies associated with the metaverse like Extended Reality (XR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) tools will enhance how authorities deal with complex cases and offer new perspectives.
A notable recommendation by Interpol is the digitization of police stations and administrative processes which will see authorities report crimes and offer community support services virtually.
“In addition, the creation of community spaces in the Metaverse for open communication between law enforcement and the public will foster better interactions and trust.”
With virtual offices, Interpol can adopt training drills simulating large-scale emergencies like terrorist attacks, natural disasters, chemical spills, etc to better prepare for coordinated response plans.
“The metaverse can revolutionize the way law enforcement Are trained by providing an immersive and interactive environment. This medium can facilitate repetitive practice without the associated real-world cost or risk,” the paper added.
While opportunities for crime fighting abound, risks like data privacy concerns, cyber security threats that may arise from reporting incidents on metaverse platforms, legal uncertainties, and infrastructural concerns.
Meta crime and forensic investigations
The report throws light on several classes of crimes that can be committed by bad actors in the metaverse explaining their possible modus operandi for authorities to get ahead and prevent any occurrence.
Similarly, law enforcement teams would have to integrate virtual reality teams into their workforce as the use of technology creates data for crime prevention.
Lastly, the data on augmented reality worlds, particularly the metaverse infrastructure, can be used as more advanced forensic gathering tools are rolled out.