Australian federal police (AFP) claim they have "no choice" but to heavily incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their operations due to the massive data involved in investigations.

The statement sparks worry about potential police overreach, as authorities grapple with data amounts beyond human capacity.

AFP's technology strategy manager, Benjamin Lamont, disclosed that an average investigation entails examining approximately 40 terabytes of data, forcing the agency towards a more tech-dependent approach.

However, the use of AI in law enforcement has faced criticism and intense scrutiny, especially after AFP admitted to using Clearview AI's controversial facial recognition service.

Although AFP maintains it is committed to ensuring responsible and ethical use of technology, critics argue for more transparency and strict regulation. With AFP also developing AI for detecting deepfake images and creating text summaries of graphic content, there is a clear potential for excessive police authority and invasion of privacy.

- CyberBeat