Automated OSINT and Social Media Monitoring for Drug Activity Detection

The expansion of digital communication technolo- 
gies has created new pathways for drug trafficking operations. 
Criminal networks increasingly use public social media platforms to 
promote their activities while they use encrypted messaging systems 
to maintain operational contact. The combination of distributed 
digital networks and hybrid digital networks cre- ates major 
obstacles for conventional methods of conducting investigations. 
The research paper investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) 
technology works together with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) 
methods to create automated systems that detect drug-related 
activities that occur online. The Narcotics Intelligence Platform 
aims to combine three technologies which include Natural 
Language Processing (NLP), computer vision, and network-based 
behavioral analytics. The article investigates the ethical and legal 
aspects which govern AI-based monitoring systems together with its 
associated governance structures.