Cybercrime Investigation, Artificial Intelligence, S.M.A.R.T. Policing 

The emergent trend of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in law enforcement, particularly in cybercrime investigation continues to gain popularity among police forces worldwide. Recent developments in the Philippine National Police (PNP) also points to the same direction but how feasible is the use of AI in cybercrime investigation in the Philippines taking into account several factors including the legal framework of the Data Privacy Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and how the law on evidence is applied in the local criminal justice system? The shift to digital economy is provided for in the law by way of the Internet transactions Act and the Electronic Commerce Act, yet the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) accepts increasing number of complaints about online fraud and other crimes in the electronic highway. Investigators from the PNP ACG were asked to participate in a survey to assess their awareness in the use of AI in cybercrime investigations and gauge their understanding of how beneficial AI to their crime resolution efficiency is. The ever-evolving generative AI can exponentially expedite evidence gathering by reducing tedious and repetitive tasks performed by investigators to build up a case that can stand in court. At present, the tremendous potential of the different types of AI can help the PNP ACG expedite investigation and process voluminous data. Assessment od the capabilities of the PNP ACG in terms of organizational culture and readiness, training and expertise and infrastructure will bring the possibility and feasibility of the utilization of an AI System with Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing in conducting cybercrime investigation in concordance to the 4A Framework of Analysis, Augmentation, Automation and Adaptation.