Samenvatting

In recent years, our society has become increasingly digitized, leading to increased datafication. The rise of computers, the internet, mobile devices, social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and related technologies has transformed various aspects of our daily lives, the way we work, and the way we recreate. This increasing digitization and datafication have also significantly impacted the police function and police work. As a result, there has been a growing emphasis on ‘big data policing’ as police departments increasingly rely on big data and related applications to steer both operational (e.g., public order enforcement and investigative research) and strategic (e.g., allocation of police resources) processes. This contribution delves into the implications of digitization and datafication for the police function and police work, with a particular focus on big data policing. On one hand, we clearly define and conceptualize big data policing, providing examples of its practical applications in today’s society. On the other hand, we examine the broad implications of big data policing for both the police function and police work. It is clear that big data policing contributes to further fragmentation of the police function by involving actors from various levels of the criminal justice system. Additionally, it introduces significant changes to socio-technological police practices, such as the extent of proactive police work and the impact on the discretion of police officers. The contribution concludes with a brief reflection on how these changes can be appreciated and considers the potential impact of the European AI Act on both the police and other stakeholders who utilize AI in their work. This legislation promises to have substantial consequences for all those directly or indirectly involved in AI-powered police practices.