Can information technology be used to prevent and counter acts of terrorism? The question has gained utmost significance against the backdrop of the serial bomb blasts across Mumbai's rail network. Countries around the world use a wide range of technologies to both pre-empt terrorist strikes as well as investigate them. And India should do likewise. So what would an ideal anti-terrorism technology system look like? In an intelligence work, information is the key. Getting the information at the right time and sending it out to the right people can go a long way in stopping terror in its tracks. An ideal system would typically have three layers:

Information gathering
Analytics
Access and alerts

In a city or a country, there are many security agencies such as the police, the railway police, the airport police, the Navy, the Army, etc who may have their own intelligence gathering systems. In addition, there is a huge amount of personal information that is held by banks, telephone companies, credit card companies etc. People also leave a trail of information when they transact. The problem is these systems are not integrated so it becomes difficult for law enforcers to spot the bigger picture or patterns. The agencies do share information but since the exchange of information is manual and does not happen in real time, it is often too late before critical information reaches the right hands. What is needed is an integrated approach to information gathering. Information from all the agencies should come into a centralised repository where it can be collated, analysed and disseminated in real time. Of course, it must be ensured that the system is extremely secure so that the information does not fall into the wrong hands. Besides, a large amount of information never gets into the system in time because it comes from networks of informers on the ground. These informers often have vital information, which can validate or add to existing intelligence. Getting information from these sources quickly into the system is of paramount importance. Wireless, handheld and mobile technologies could be used to effectively do this. Another area to consider is the use of sophisticated and integrated public surveillance systems such as CCTV cameras and number plate tracking systems. Instead of just using them in sensitive areas such as airports, these systems can be installed at key entry and exit points, junctions, and sensitive routes.

Courtesy: www.financialexpress.com, July 25, 2006