FOI AI or Artificial Intelligence in Policing (856-2023/24)
Request
Please could I request any and all information that is held by your organisation in relation to the use of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Automation of Digital Forensic analysis of evidential sources / devices.
This request extends to, but is not limited to, any:
• Policies
• Procedures
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Use cases
• Information
• Decisions
Please could I also request any information that is held in relation to any of the following questions:
- How is AI and/or Machine Learning incorporated into Digital Forensics within your organisation or within investigations that are conducted?
- Are there any specific AI or ML-based tools which are used by your organisation in the conducting of digital forensic examinations or triage?
- Are there any frameworks, guidance documents, or other frameworks against which any digital tool is judged before it can be used within digital forensic examinations?
- How are tools that are used accredited for use?
- What metrics are used for that accreditation?
- Is there any ongoing research or development occurring in relation to the use of automated tools within digital forensic investigations within your organisation?
- Is your organisation testing or conducting any research into the use of such tools?
- Does your organisation outsource any such activities to third parties, such as technology or forensic companies?
- Do any of these third parties, if used, make use of automation through ML or AI?
- Is there anything in any form of agreement that would preclude the use of such tools?
- How are tools that third parties use accredited or audited?
- Would your organisation have any concerns about the use of such tools?
Response
Extent of Searches to Locate Information
Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police to locate relevant information.
Decision
I am not obliged to provide you with a response to your request pursuant to Section 12(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please note that when one part of your request falls under Section 12, we are not obliged to review the rest of the questions and the whole request is therefore exempt.
Section 12(1) applies to your request as the cost of complying with your request is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of identifying and retrieving any relevant information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
In order to retrieve the information you have requested, it would be necessary to conduct a search across the whole force for any correspondence, including that which is written, relating to Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Automation of Digital Forensic analysis of evidential sources / devices. A manual read would then be required to determine if it related to your request, exceeding the time limit allowed under the Act.
Pursuant to Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice.
Pursuant to Section 16 of the Act I am required to offer you advice and assistance with regarding to refining your request to within the ‘appropriate limit’ (time/cost limit). However, due to the information provided above I am unable to suggest how you may refine your request and still receive the information within the cost threshold. If you wish to discuss this please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.