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Lawful interception using new and emerging technologies (5G & beyond, quantum computing and encryption)

 

Software-based communication technologies such as 5G and beyond will bring many benefits but also pose a number of new challenges for the police and the judiciary. In particular, lawful interception systems will have to adapt to the increased use of encryption including end-to-end encryption, to edge computing that might limit the availability and accessibility to relevant data and to slicing technology that will multiply the number of virtual operators. In addition, high bandwidth access networks pose the challenge for police and the judiciary to be able to cope with tremendous amount of data and will accelerate the switch to application level communication that are commonly used by criminals. Finally, quantum computers could break current encryption standards, as well as be used to develop new ways of encrypting communications for illicit purposes, making them impenetrable to interception. Thus, there is a strong need to adequately tackle challenges for Police Authorities stemming from all these emerging developments as well as to make sure that lawful interception keeps track with these evolutions, respecting applicable legislation and fundamental rights such as personal data protection and privacy. Research activities proposed within this topic should address lawful interception challenges of Police Authorities related to both software based technologies of communication including 5G (and beyond) and quantum computers in a balanced way.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.