Open topic on preventing and countering the misuse of emerging technologies for criminal purposes, including issues related to lawful access to data

Open EU call topic HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02 · HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions. Part of call HORIZON-CL3-2026-01: Civil Security for Society 2026. Next deadline 2026-11-05. Topic page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-02

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: - Police Authorities in Europe are empowered with modern, accessible and validated tools, methodologies and training curricula to anticipate and cope with the misuse of new and emerging technologies for criminal purposes, with the aim to facilitate prevention, detection, efficient data access and investigation of criminal offences in a lawful manner and with full respect of fundamental rights, including the right to protection of personal data and to privacy; - Reinforced interdisciplinary collaboration at the European level through the establishment of partnerships among technologists, policymakers and Police Authorities, resulting in a holistic understanding of the challenges posed by emerging technologies and in sharing of best practices; - Clear guidelines and frameworks are created, including on procedures and rules, that ensure lawful access to data, balancing the needs of security with respect for privacy and that foster a European approach to the related challenges for the police and the judiciary.

Scope: New and emerging technologies (e.g., new communication technologies, quantum technologies, new biometrics and identification technologies, cloud computing technologies, generative AI etc.) bring many benefits but also pose a number of new challenges for the police and the judiciary. Therefore, there is a strong need to adequately tackle challenges for Police Authorities stemming from all these new and emerging developments as well as to make sure that the lawful access to data keeps track with these evolutions, respecting applicable…