On 8 July 2022, a joint workshop between the University of Applied Sciences for Public Service in Bavaria (HföD) and Vienna Centre for Societal Security (VICESSE) took place in Vienna to exchange and discuss the results of the LOCARD and TRACE projects. Besides the project teams, experts from the financial sector and law enforcement attended the workshop. Based on state-of-the-art blockchain technology and equipped with a set of digital forensic investigation tools, the information exchange platform developed within the LOCARD project offers investigators the possibility to optimise time- and resource-consuming police administration and information exchange processes within and across national borders. The central idea is to supply digital evidence, such as videos or images, to a common processing system, to record the further processing and data transmission pathways in detail and to ensure their traceability. Thus, by using blockchain technology, LOCARD not only creates joint information networks with other LEAs or accredited private institutions, but also a fully traceable documentation of evidence for judicial prosecution. Central points of discussion in the joint debate with the experts were, on the one hand, the difficulties in the cross-border certification, approval and implementation of such an instrument due to European law regulations and diverging legal regulations between the member states. On the other hand, the potential for adapting such an instrument into existing police organisational structures was discussed. In this respect, the first results of the TRACE project could support the practical framing of LOCARD. After all, initial findings of TRACE showed that while there is a need among LEAs for additional/improved technologies for information exchange - even if these are not seen as primary means to improve good police cooperation - without an appropriate legal framework and a trustful working relationship between LEAs, the addition of new information channels may only increase the information burden.  

Contact details:  

VICESSE                                  
Paulanergasse 4/8
1040 Vienna, AT
+43 1 929 66 38 office@vicesse.eu        

Disclaimer:

The TRACE project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101022004.  
The LOCARD  project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 832735.