A prototype for cyberspace security
Information technology is used by organised crime for communication purposes as well as for work and expanding their networks. Tools currently in use to fight organised crime fall short, indicating the need for a scalable tool for more efficient tracking. CAPER (Collaborative information, acquisition, processing, exploitation and reporting for the prevention of organised crime) was an EU-funded project consisting of a consortium of 17 partners from 6 countries. Through sharing, exploiting and analysing open and private information sources, the aim was to develop a strategic concept of organised crime. Catering to the needs of participating law enforcement agencies, it allowed them to analyse and define their requirements as well as perform integration tests and field trials of the platform. Furthermore, 14 languages were integrated along with semantic ontologies to optimise result accuracy. Mass media sources were integrated with internal information systems and semantic web data collections. An ethical and legal framework was provided to ensure that the technological aspects are in sync with the requirements. Partners invested resources to produce video footage, helping to maximise the impact of the platform's presentation. It showcases the work's goals as well as the mechanisms of the platform and how it can be used. A final dissemination event that included speeches, demonstrations and plenary sessions covered important issues and latest technological developments in the field of cyber security, internet business and information technology. A plan to further develop the platform has been set. This will enable it to advance from prototype stage to commercial stage, which can lead to advancements for a more secure cyberspace.
Keywords
Cyberspace, internet, organised crime, information technology, law enforcement, information systems
