INTERPOL conference told biometrics and big data capabilities needed to combat extremism

Biometrics, data analytics, and digital forensics are the three key areas of innovation necessary to enable international law enforcement to address today’s advanced security landscape, according to Singapore’s Second Minister for Home Affairs.

International Business Times reports Minister Josephine Teo made the comments during a speech to INTERPOL World 2019 this week in the island nation. Teo told the audience that technology has made it easier to spread extremist ideas and propaganda to a wide audience, leading to the previously unheard-of phenomenon of self-radicalization, and posing a new problem.

The use of biometrics, such as in the contactless immigration clearance checks at Changi Airport and others, can help, Teo says. The ability to search through video footage with facial recognition technology is also an important tool for identifying criminals, she added.

Data analytics and digital forensics can also help reduce crime rates in the future, but only if the huge volumes of data made available by global digitization are handled appropriately, Teo cautions. She revealed in her speech that the government of Singapore is setting up a new Home Team Science and Technology agency to reinforcing its technical capabilities.

In addition to a national ID verification service as part of its digital government services initiative, Singapore’s government has recently moved to launch facial recognition for public surveillance.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  border management  |  criminal ID  |  immigration control  |  Interpol  |  INTERPOL World Congress  |  police  |  surveillance