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Study of 41 Canadian police finds public image concerns crowded out AI-crime planning

Study title: Losing sight of the threat: police, risk, and artificial intelligence

Evidence type
Interviews or qualitative study
Sample
n = 41
Sources
1 sourcePeer-reviewed
Published
2 min read
Truvace record
TRV-2026-2511cite or check it

Study title: Losing sight of the threat: police, risk, and artificial intelligence

Researchers interviewed 41 Canadian police personnel, both sworn officers and civilians, who know about or help make decisions on AI in their organisations. They found that, because of existing reputational risks, police take a risk-averse approach when bringing in AI technology.

Read the study abstract

Purpose Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping society, presenting both opportunities and challenges for law enforcement. Police organisations are cautiously adopting these technologies to improve operational efficiency. However, significant risks also emerge as criminals exploit AI for harmful activities. Threats such as deepfakes, advanced phishing, and AI-driven malware endanger communities. Understanding how police leaders evaluate the various risks and prepare for AI-related threats is crucial fo…

The problem

In interviews with 41 Canadian police personnel, researchers found that risk-averse AI decision-making aimed at easing public concerns came at the expense of preparing for criminals' use of AI.

In brief

Participants tended to concentrate on easing public concerns about police AI. According to the study, that focus came at the cost of planning and preparing for criminals' use of AI tools such as deepfakes, advanced phishing and AI-driven malware.

The authors warn that fast-moving AI tools in criminal hands threaten to overwhelm police organisations. They discuss several strategies to reduce these threats, though the findings rest on what police personnel said rather than on measured readiness.

Main points

  1. The study used thematic analysis of in-depth qualitative interviews with 41 Canadian police personnel.
  2. Interviewees were sworn and civilian staff with knowledge of, or involvement in, organisational AI decision-making.
  3. Police are described as cautiously adopting AI to improve operational efficiency.
  4. Criminals are exploiting AI for deepfakes, advanced phishing and AI-driven malware, which the authors say endanger communities.
  5. The authors use Social Construction of Technology theory to explain why attention went to public concerns rather than criminal threats.

The full story

The study asked how police leaders judge AI-related risks and prepare for malicious use of AI. It drew on in-depth qualitative interviews with 41 people in Canadian police organisations who have knowledge of, or a role in, decisions about AI, including both sworn officers and civilian staff.

The central finding is that existing reputational risk factors push police personnel toward risk-averse choices when implementing AI. Within the Social Construction of Technology framework, participants focused on attenuating public concerns, and this came at the expense of planning for criminal use of AI.

The authors say the pace of AI advances among criminals threatens to overwhelm police organisations. They set out several strategies to mitigate the threats, which include deepfakes, advanced phishing and AI-driven malware.

Sources

1 on file
  1. Policing and Societydoi:10.1080/10439463.2026.2716885
    Peer-reviewed2026-08-19

Talk it over

Four questions to start onWho carries this cost, and what would have to change to prevent it?

Start with a question

Study of 41 Canadian police finds public image concerns crowded out AI-crime planninghttps://truvace.com/item/losing-sight-of-the-threat-police-risk-and-artificial-intelligence

  1. Who carries this cost, and what would have to change to prevent it?

    The problem In interviews with 41 Canadian police personnel, researchers found that risk-averse AI decision-making aimed at easing public concerns came at the expense of preparing for criminals' use of AI.

    Answer in the thread

  2. How do we know? What can this kind of evidence show, and what can’t it?

    The evidence This rests on interviews or another qualitative study with a sample of 41, from Policing and Society.

    Answer in the thread

  3. What does it leave open? What else would you want to know before acting on it?

    The record’s own caveat The findings rest on interviews with 41 Canadian police personnel about their perspectives on organisational readiness, not on a measured assessment of police preparedness or of AI-enabled crime.

    Answer in the thread

  4. Have you seen AI used this way where you study, work or live? Did it go the same way?

    Answer in the thread

The questions are the same on every record. The details under them are taken from this record as written.

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