Interview with?INTERPOL's Catherine Colthart on AI's Role in Shaping Global Peace

Catherine Colthart, INTERPOL CBRNE and Vulnerable Targets Sub-Directorate, addresses the benefits and challenges of AI in the pursuit of global security including the role of international organisations.?

How do you see the role of AI in shaping the future of global peace and security?

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has garnered significant global attention, with both its benefits and risks being hotly debated. I will approach the questions from a Law Enforcement perspective.

The role of AI in shaping the future of global peace and security is multifaceted. On one hand, AI has the potential to enhance law enforcement capabilities, improve threat analysis, and facilitate more effective responses to emerging security challenges. On the other hand, AI also poses risks, such as the potential for malicious use by criminals and terrorists. The misuse of AI can contribute to the spread of misinformation and disinformation, creating deliberate false narratives that can spread rapidly through social media. This in turn can lead to instability within countries and potentially sparking acts of retaliation, escalating violence, or even the use of weapons systems.

As a global law enforcement organisation, INTERPOL recognises the need for responsible AI development and deployment to ensure that its benefits are harnessed while mitigating its risks. Law Enforcement will need to work with regulators in constructing a governance framework to limit the adverse actions of criminals and terrorists who will exploit inefficient AI controls and enforcement and utilize the AI technology to accomplish their aims.

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INTERPOL is a key partner of the OPCW. Could you please highlight some of the main achievements of our cooperation so far?

INTERPOL and the OPCW are the two leading international organisations at the forefront of addressing the threat of chemical misuse. Their long-standing partnership has significantly raised awareness about the dangers associated with chemical misuse, ensuring that chemical security remains a top priority. This cooperation has created an environment where countries can seek assistance in developing national policies, drafting laws and regulations, and establishing robust procedures to enforce compliance. The two organisations have regularly collaborated on capacity-building efforts, with INTERPOL leveraging its unique position to gather chemical threat intelligence and share it with OPCW and other international organisations to support their objectives. The OPCW has also been an active participant in the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats, an INTERPOL-led initiative that facilitates information sharing and collaboration among leading chemical security experts to address emerging threats, trends, and technological advancements. While progress has been made, it is essential that the two organisations take their collaboration to the next level by establishing a mutually binding cooperation agreement to further strengthen their joint efforts.

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AI presents both threats and opportunities related to preventing and combating chemical terrorism. Could you please tell us what do you think the most important applications of AI are in countering chemical terrorism and strengthening chemical security around the globe?

In the context of countering chemical terrorism, AI has the potential to play a vital role in enhancing threat analysis, identifying patterns and anomalies, and facilitating more effective responses to emerging threats. AI-powered tools can significantly support the detection and tracking of chemical substances, as well as the analysis of chemical samples, thereby improving the overall efficiency of chemical security efforts. Moreover, AI can help strengthen chemical security by optimising supply chain management, monitoring chemical industries, and identifying potential vulnerabilities.

From a law enforcement perspective, AI can be a game-changer in detecting suspicious transactions on e-commerce platforms, a major challenge for policing in the digital age. By leveraging AI capabilities, law enforcement agencies can more effectively track and trace criminal networks and terrorists who exploit the anonymity of the internet to further their illicit activities.

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How can the international community address the risks posed by criminal misuse of these same AI applications?

To mitigate the risks posed by the criminal misuse of AI applications, the international community must collaborate to develop and implement robust governance frameworks, standards, and guidelines for the development and deployment of AI. This includes ensuring that AI systems are designed with security and ethical considerations in mind, and that they are subject to rigorous testing and validation. Law enforcement agencies must also develop the necessary skills and capabilities to detect and respond to AI-powered criminal activities, including the ability to identify and disrupt AI-powered command and control systems, and to trace and prosecute individuals who misuse AI for criminal purposes. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies must share intelligence and best practices on AI-powered criminal activities, and develop joint strategies for countering these threats through international cooperation. Additionally, they must work closely with the private sector and academia to stay ahead of the curve in terms of AI-powered criminal capabilities, and to leverage AI-powered tools and platforms to support their own investigations and operations. By working together, providing greater training on AI, and ensuring accessibility of the technology, the international community can effectively mitigate the risks posed by the criminal misuse of AI and ensure that AI is used to promote global peace and security.

How can AI technologies facilitate greater international cooperation in advancing the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, particularly in sharing threat intelligence, monitoring chemical industries, and coordinating rapid responses to potential violations?

As I previously mentioned, AI-powered tools can significantly support the analysis and dissemination of threat intelligence, facilitate the monitoring of chemical industries, and enable more effective coordination of responses to potential violations. By leveraging AI, professionals across various sectors can enhance their capabilities, making the world a safer place. AI can effectively streamline administrative tasks, detect factual information, and free up regulators and industry experts to focus on more high-impact areas. Moreover, AI can play a crucial role in developing more effective early warning systems, enabling more proactive responses to emerging threats and ultimately saving lives.

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What role could international organisations, such as INTERPOL and the OPCW, play in facilitating global dialogue on the responsible use of AI in law enforcement and security? How can these organisations work together to ensure that AI is used to ensure global peace?

International organisations such as INTERPOL and the OPCW have a vital role to play in facilitating a global dialogue on the responsible use of AI in law enforcement and security. By working together, we can develop and promote guidelines, standards, and best practices for the development and deployment of AI, and raise awareness among member states on the importance of responsible AI development. Given that AI policy development is still in its infancy in most countries, timely and focused international cooperation can help align AI policies and regulations. Notably, many existing AI policies, developed by a few countries, industry, and consumer markets, already recognise the importance of international cooperation, highlighting the connection between AI development and cross-border collaboration. This presents an opportunity for international organisations to leverage this momentum.?

Furthermore, we can collaborate to develop AI-powered tools and platforms that support more effective law enforcement and security cooperation, and provide training and capacity-building programs for law enforcement officials on the responsible use of AI. By doing so, we can ensure that AI is used to enhance global security and safety, while minimising its risks.