The Hague, 20 February 2025
Today, Europol is publishing a new report, Assessing Technologies in Law Enforcement: A Method for Ethical Decision-Making, providing law enforcement agencies with a structured approach to evaluating new technologies while upholding fundamental rights and public trust.
Developed by the Strategic Group on Technology and Ethics under the European Clearing Board, with support from Europol’s Innovation Lab, the report sets out a seven-step ethical assessment method to help law enforcement navigate the challenges of digital transformation. It aims to ensure that the adoption and use of new technologies align with core values such as transparency, fairness, privacy and accountability.
One of the lead authors, from the Norwegian Police University College, presented the report at the Fundamental Rights Conference 2025 hosted at Europol’s headquarters on 20-21 February 2025.
A structured approach to ethical decision-making
The report introduces a value-based framework designed to assist law enforcement agencies in evaluating the ethical implications of emerging technologies. This includes identifying moral concerns, assessing risks and benefits, and ensuring that technology use remains lawful and proportionate.
To illustrate the method in practice, the report examines various law enforcement technologies, including:
- Video analytics technology – assessing privacy implications while enhancing public safety.
- AI risk assessment for gender-based violence cases – balancing the need for predictive tools with fairness and transparency.
- Open-source data scraping – evaluating the ethical and legal concerns of automated online investigations.
- Chatbots to prevent online child sexual abuse – considering the balance between proactive intervention and privacy rights.
- Automated analysis of large and complex datasets – addressing the risks of function creep and ensuring responsible data use.
The case studies are not intended to provide a definitive judgement on the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ use of a technology, but to empower law enforcement agencies to apply the method in diverse contexts.
A dynamic and evolving resource
The report is intended to be a ‘living document’, regularly updated with new use cases and ethical considerations as law enforcement agencies across Europe continue to adapt to technological advancements.
By promoting a structured ethical framework, Europol aims to increase public confidence in law enforcement’s use of technology, ensuring that innovation in policing remains aligned with societal values and legal safeguards.
Read the Report
Source – Europol