Predictive policing: The case of POL-INTEL

• In Event: Welfare After Digitalisation: Siting values, affordances, and politics

Abstract

As big data methods are used by an increasing number of police forces around the world, the questions around the practices that shape them have to a large extent remained unanswered. This is also the case in regard to digital data sharing by the police. This case study aims to investigate the use of POLINTEL, a data analytics ICT tool developed by Palantir Technologies and purchased by the Danish Police in 2017. We will investigate the initial procurement, design and everyday use and implementation of POLINTEL. This paper will initially examine the current media/political debate around the development of the software, the legal adjustments that had to be enacted for it to be compatible with the Danish constitution, as well as the expectations related to its procurement. The paper explores how notions central to law enforcement such as crime, prevention, justice and privacy are transformed by digitalization of/in the police.

Author

• Vasilis Vlassis, IT University of Copenhagen