New AI Technology Tracks EU Firearms Incidents in Real-Time
Leiden criminologists have collaborated with an artificial intelligence (AI) technology to develop a real-time online database that tracks firearm violence incidents across the European Union (EU). The technology, part of the EU-funded project INSIGHT, continuously scans over 350 news sources to identify and record firearms incidents, providing a more accurate and current understanding of the nature and extent of firearm violence in Europe.
The database, known as gunviolence.eu, offers insight into the scope of firearms incidents currently reported in the media. While not all incidents make the news, the database still provides valuable information on the extent and nature of firearm violence within the EU.
One of the key features of the technology is its ability to identify national differences in terms of perpetrators, victims, and the types of weapons used. For each incident, the database records details such as the perpetrators involved, the victims affected, the specific weapons used, the context of the incident, and the media articles reporting on it. Additionally, the database creates a unique profile for each country, including the latest statistics on firearm violence.
The data from the database highlights notable national differences. In countries like Finland and Sweden, where firearms laws are relatively lenient, firearms are frequently used in cases of domestic violence. Conversely, in the Netherlands, firearms are primarily used in criminal contexts. Dutch criminals often employ converted weapons, such as gas or alarm guns that have been modified to fire bullets, or deactivated weapons that have been reactivated, highlighting the resourcefulness of Dutch criminals.
The freely accessible database is valuable to various individuals and organizations, including lawyers, policymakers, journalists, researchers, police officers, judges, and ordinary citizens. Unlike other data sources related to this topic, which may require special permission for access, the gunviolence.eu database only contains open data, making it an excellent example of open science.
Project INSIGHT, which coordinated the development of the technology, involved several organizations, including The Flemish Peace Institute, the Small Arms Survey, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Textgain, the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), Leiden University, Europol, the European Firearms Experts, EMPACT Firearms, the Belgian Federal Police, and the Dutch Police.
By employing AI technology and utilizing open data sources, the real-time online database provides crucial insights into firearm violence throughout the EU. With its ability to track incidents, identify national differences, and offer an up-to-date picture of firearm violence, the database proves to be a valuable resource for understanding and addressing this pressing issue in Europe.
