Police are now trialling a new high-tech tool that allows them to retrieve data from wearable devices such as smartwatches.
The new tool, MOBILEdit, has been developed by Prague-based company Compelson Labs and features on a new 64-page list of technological capabilities police have.
Police have said the new tool was only used on devices lawfully obtained under a search warrant or by consent.
“This tool is particularly relevant for wearable devices such as smartwatches,” the report said.
“The tool can also help classify the data/media found on the device, although this may be limited as police have other tools for analysing data during investigations.”
This is the first capabilities list police have issued in two years.
Police are also trialling other new technologies including including two types of artificial intelligence from Microsoft.
However, these new technologies have not been used in public so far and only on internal police information.
One of the two, a cloud-based search tool, “may improve operational efficiency … and reduce the likelihood of risks caused by poor information availability and awareness”, the report said.
“Strict keyword searching can lead to important information not being found when needed.”
A fourth technology they were currently trialling stitched drone footage together, and a fifth, underway in central Auckland, was of devices that could share text, audio and images on a secure cell network “to improve response times” in the CBD.
