From: Alan <alan@ctrl-alt-del.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 10:36:57 +0800
To: Jim Choate <ravage@ssz.com>
Subject: Re: Criminal Intelegence Eases Policeman's Lot
In-Reply-To: <199709170004.TAA01736@einstein.ssz.com>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.95.970916190239.21248A-100000@www.ctrl-alt-del.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



On Tue, 16 Sep 1997, Jim Choate wrote:

>    Criminal Intellegence Eases Policeman's Lot
>    
>    Reuters
>    16-SEP-97
>    
>    
>    CAMBRIDGE, England, Sept 16 (Reuter) - Privately held Harlequin Group
>    Ltd said it introduced a software product which harnesses artificial
>    intelligence to speed up criminal investigations.

"Repent Harlequin, said the Tick-Tock man."
>    
>    The product, Harlequin Intelligence, displays criminal investigation
>    data in graphical form. Artificial intelligence is used to break down
>    witness statements into their component form and instantly links
>    evidence to existing databases.

I expect tools like this to become more and more prevelent.  Especially
amongst items listed in RISKS.  

It is my imagination or are police getting more and more lazy?  There
seems to be a desire to find the one magic bullet that will end crime as
we know it, be it AI profilers, back doored encryption, a spy camera in
every bedroom, or whatever.

It is just as bad as management that tries to find the "one true
management fad" while spending the company into the poorhouse.  (In many
ways, that is exactly the same process here.  People in charge looking for
an easy way out...)

>    The graphic displays allow a quick snapshot of the progress of an
>    investigation.

I wonder what happens when the case does not fit the template provided...?

>    In a statement released at the Cambridge International Symposium on
>    Economic Crime, Harlequin said the system discovers links or
>    identifies associations that may not be immediately apparent to an
>    investigator or analyst.

Anything you say can and will be used against you in a crossreferenced
database.

Of course, the investigation will only be as good as the data thrown into
it.  And if you misspoke or said something that was not 100% accurate,
that will be used against you later, when they need to wrap up the case.

>    ``Harlequin Intelligence is designed for use by major law enforcement
>    and investigation agencies to combat many different types of crime
>    including homicide, fraud and drug related offences. It is also
>    designed for use in commercial business information environments where
>    these powerful technologies can be equally applied to corporate
>    business concerns,'' the Cambridge based company said in a statement.

Orwell in the police force, Orwell in the workplace, Orwell in the living
room...

This reads like CNN bought the company's press release whole.  This is not
reporting, this is sales!

>    A spokesman declined to reveal the cost of the system or the company's
>    sales targets but said the system had already been sold to the Los
>    Angeles Police Department, a force in Florida, the U.S. Federal Bureau
>    of Investigation, and four police forces in Britain.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

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