Opportunities for application of blockchain in the scenario of intelligence and investigation units

Abstract

In the context of combating crime, government institutions in several countries have instituted units or sectors specialized in investigation and intelligence activities to act in different areas and expertise’s. Due to the considerable concern with security and confidentiality, as well as the characteristics inherent to the context of these units, an opportunity arises to adopt alternative solutions aimed at the management, storage and sharing of digital assets. Due to the characteristics of decentralization, enhanced security, tamper-proof, traceability and transparency, in recent years, blockchain technology has become very trendy and penetrated different domains. However, blockchain adoption and use in the context of in investigation and intelligence units is rather unexplored in academic literature. Exploring the main characteristics of blockchain technology, this paper presents an overview of different application trends of blockchain technology, and propose the use of blockchain as a support mechanism in the management, storage and sharing of generated digital assets in the context of these specialized units.