Innovative technologies have opened up new avenues for professionals to enhance the intelligence process. However, these same technologies have also been misused by entities such as terrorists, leading to new risks and challenges. As a result, it’s vital to promptly identify and assess the potential effects of these emerging technologies, not just on the intelligence community, but also on terrorist or criminal groups.
However, the time limitations faced by intelligence professionals might hinder them from keeping up with the latest technological advancements. This could, for example, slow down the process of adapting these technologies to meet the intelligence community’s needs, and also delay the development of early countermeasures to address the evolving threat landscape.
To tackle this issue, the European Commission funded project NOTIONES, named after a Latin term, that means “being informed”, works to create a network that links researchers and industries with the intelligence community. This network not only fosters discussions on new and upcoming technologies, but also provides solution providers with a deeper understanding of the specific needs and requirements of practitioners. The insights obtained through this process are shared in regular reports that include technology roadmaps, priorities, and suggestions for future research initiatives and development efforts.
NOTIONES undertakes several initiatives to establish the aforementioned network, including webinars, Working Groups, workshops, and conferences. The project organizes a minimum of two concurrent working groups each year, which convene regularly to deliberate on pertinent topics identified beforehand. These Working Groups comprise a diverse group of stakeholders, each contributing their unique expertise and viewpoint to the discussions. At present, there are two active working groups concentrating on the following subjects:
- Privacy-Enhancing Intelligence Cycle Processing Improvement
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in intelligence
To support the work of these groups the project is celebrating its 3rd Conference on the 21st of May under the theme: “Securing the Future: Data Privacy, AI, and the Evolution of Intelligence”.
The relevance of both subjects, Data Privacy and AI, are undeniable at present. For instance, in the context of data sharing within the intelligence and security sector, it’s crucial to strike a careful balance between privacy and security. This ensures that international collaboration is effective without infringing on individual rights. The surge in digitization and the extensive application of information technologies have amplified the necessity to protect personal data. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe have established stringent rules to guarantee the privacy and appropriate management of personal data. In this era dominated by information, being aware of privacy and adopting ethical practices for data handling are essential.
On the other hand, Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved in recent years, becoming an integral part of our daily lives. From social media algorithms to autonomous vehicles, AI applications abound. However, alongside its transformative potential, AI also presents significant challenges related to data privacy. In today’s digital age, software engineering is undergoing a paradigm shift with the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. NOTIONES is currently exploring the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) within the intelligence community, emphasizing the necessity for best practices to effectively address associated challenges.
NOTIONES 3rd Conference will delve into privacy considerations within the intelligence and security domain, exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and safeguarding sensitive information.
Article by: Maitena Ilardia, Olatz Ibáñez (Tecnalia).