JAIPUR: The rise of artificial intelligence and the challenges posed by deepfakes were among the key issues discussed at a day-long state-level police conference held at the Rajasthan Police Academy on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, DIG (Cyber Crime) Vikas Kumar Sharma said police must incorporate AI tools in investigations and at the same time prepare to counter new threats created by new technologies.Sharma said digital forensic systems that can extract metadata will be essential in tackling deepfake-related crimes. He called on police officers and the public to adopt basic digital hygiene, such as two-factor authentication and strong passwords, to prevent sensitive online information from being compromised.Sharma warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-based tools such as automatic voice generation systems to deceive their victims. He said the same AI could be used constructively in police enforcement, including through facial recognition systems, automated alerts and evidence management.“Bangalore police has started a pilot project with an automated helpline system and it is showing good results,” he said, adding that AI agents may be deployed to alert suspects through CCTV footage, and blockchain technology could help maintain the integrity of digital evidence by preserving the chain of custody of the evidence.He acknowledged that emerging AI technologies have unique challenges, including the need for advanced cybersecurity layers and protection from malicious large-scale language models, and pointed to AI capabilities in pattern recognition that can help flag individuals most likely to engage in criminal activity.
