All European countries are affected by crime and terrorism. To better combat these security challenges, 18 European countries, convinced of the need for a sustainable use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement agencies (LEAs), have come together to decide on a collaboration. Last October, STARTLIGHT (Sustainable Autonomy and Resilience for LEAs using AI against High priority Threats) was launched, an innovation project that aims to strengthen sovereignty and strategic autonomy in the field of artificial intelligence for European law enforcement.
The STARTLIGHT project, coordinated by the CEA for France, brings together 52 partners representing 18 European countries, including 15 law enforcement agencies from 13 European Union countries. It will have a total budget of €18,835,263.75, including €17,000,000 from the EU.
For four years, the partners will work on the development of a new sustainable and multidisciplinary cooperation. They will implement a strategy to provide European law enforcement agencies with interoperable and reliable AI solutions, within the framework of the EU’s ethical and societal values, to deal with high-priority threats. STARTLIGHT was created to strengthen the AI capabilities of law enforcement but also those of the research organisations and industry that support them.
It will improve the widespread understanding of AI in LEAs to boost their investigative and cyber security operations. STARTLIGHT will ensure that LEAs can protect their own AI systems, increase their expertise and capability in fighting crime and terrorism through AI. The project will generate high quality datasets, an interoperable and standardised framework and an AI hub to enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy in AI.
Project objectives
The increasing complexity of security challenges added to the accumulation of large amounts of digital data requires better use of artificial intelligence capabilities by law enforcement agencies. AI can bring benefits to LEAs at all levels with the right understanding, tools, data, and protection. In addition, a community that brings together LEAs, researchers, industry, security practitioners, and others in the security ecosystem in a coordinated and strategic effort is essential for translating these efforts into operational practices.
STARTLIGHT aims to present an inclusive and sustainable vision for increasing the awareness, capacity, adoption and long-term impact of AI in Europe for LEAs with specific strategic objectives:
- Improve widespread understanding of AI in LEAs to strengthen their investigative and cybersecurity operations in a manner consistent with legal, ethical and societal values ;
- Provide opportunities for LEAs to leverage AI tools and solutions in their operational work that are trustworthy, transparent, and human-centric.
- Ensure that LEAs can protect their own AI systems through privacy and security by design approaches, better cybersecurity tools and knowledge.
- Increase LEAs’ expertise and capacity to combat the misuse of AI-supported crime and terrorism.
- Boost AI for LEAs in Europe with high quality datasets, interoperable and standardised framework for long term sustainability of solutions,
- Create an AI hub for LEAs that supports a strong AI and strengthens the EU’s strategic autonomy in AI.
The EU expects STARTLIGHT to raise awareness among law enforcement agencies that AI can effectively enhance their operational and cybersecurity capabilities and to generate the creation of a multi-stakeholder and collaborative environment for the analytical use of AI.
STARTLIGHT aims to ensure that European LEAs lead the way in AI innovation, autonomy and resilience, addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow, prioritising the safety and security of Europe for all.
Translated from Mettre l’intelligence artificielle au service des forces : au coeur du projet européen STARTLIGHT
