RITHMS Takes the Stage at DG HOME's CERIS Annual Event on Research for Fighting Crime and Terrorism
On 24-25 September 2024, DG HOME organised the annual CERIS event dedicated to research for fighting crime and terrorism, uniting practitioners, policymakers, researchers, civil society representatives, and industry experts. The first day focused on online harms, exploring current trends, future technologies, and the implications of the AI Act on combating online crimes. The second day addressed the challenges faced by police authorities, NGOs/CSOs, and forensic institutes in participating in security research consortia, fostering discussions on best practices and enhancing collaboration at the European level.
Dr. Borislav Mavrov, Programme Director at the European Institute (EI) and one of the NGO partners in the RITHMS consortium, presented insights on the critical role of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations in security research projects. He emphasized their significant contributions to advancing security research and ensuring broader societal impact. Dr. Mavrov highlighted the importance of collaboration among civil society organizations, law enforcement agencies, and research bodies in creating inclusive, impactful, and transparent projects that build public trust and foster acceptance. “As the security landscape evolves, the role of NGOs will remain vital in shaping the future of research and policy, as demonstrated by projects like RITHMS, which integrate the expertise of NGOs to ensure that security research is both technically robust and socially responsible”, was on of the key messages shared by RITHMS’s representative.
