International intelligence agency INTERPOL has implemented new technology in a bid to identify fraudulent IDs and prevent illegal movement across borders.
The technology is called Dial-Doc, an acronym for Digital INTERPOL Alert Library – Document. It facilitates communications across the 190 member countries, so a member can easily check to see if a travel document is fake.
The technology functions by offering a comparison with worldwide images of counterfeit documents, all in one centralized location.
Prior to this technology, governments had to resort to well-trained agents, or large, cumbersome books of official identifications. Country-specific agencies also relied on circulating fraudulent document alerts between governments.
Dial Doc essentially functions as a data-processing platform that parses data into an easy-to-consume format for all INTERPOL members.
A country submits the fraudulent document alert to INTERPOL, and the agency then checks for accuracy and quality before validating and publishing to the INTERPOL Information System.
The Dial-Doc application is web-based, and is available only to authorized users of INTERPOL's secure global police communications system known as I-24/7.
Fabrizio Di Carlo, Dial-Doc Project Manager, said in the INTERPOL announcement:
“The launch of Dial-Doc represents a milestone in the fight against forged documents. We now encourage as many countries as possible to share data related to fraudulent travel documents in order to fulfil the potential of this vital law enforcement tool.”
Currently deployed only in English, the agency plans future releases in INTERPOL’s three other official languages: Arabic, French and Spanish.
Lynn Lawless, Director of the Enforcement and Intelligence Programs Management for the Canada Border Services Agency, has been the key representative of the sub-group of the G8 responsible for negotiating this technology among member states.
“This important reference tool for travel document fraud is the culmination of intensive and fruitful cooperation leveraging the combined expertise of INTERPOL and migration experts from the G8 countries. Dial-Doc will assist in the global fight against document and identity fraud and the criminal activity it facilitates.”
The agency's task is to connect the world's police to aid in the combat of transnational crime via increase communication and technology.
NB: Classic counterfeit image courtesy Shutterstock.