Privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) enable data sharing and collaboration in the digital space in a way that respects privacy, ensuring that users have confidence that their data is protected. However, PETs can also be used to hide traces of criminal activities, most of which today are carried out via, or have some link to, digital communications technology. For this reason, lawful access to electronic evidence has become one of the most critical issues for European law enforcement, as it seeks to ensure safety and security while balancing this with the fundamental right to privacy.

This report presents the results of a joint horizon scanning exercise carried out by the EU Policy Lab at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), and Europol, the EU law enforcement cooperation agency. It contributes to broader JRC efforts to support the European Commission’s political priority, the ‘New Era for European Defence and Security’, by anticipating future technological developments. The aim of the exercise was to assess emerging PETs that could help or, conversely, hinder the future work of European law enforcement. The report underscores the importance of several PETs that experts deem crucial for this purpose.

These technologies have the potential to be either leveraged by law enforcement to enhance their operations or be exploited by criminals, depending on how they are developed and used in the future. The report also examines related complex regulatory frameworks and contextual factors that influence the development and deployment of these technologies. In light of the development of new encryption methods and other related enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence, this report also discusses new ways for law enforcement agencies to securely exchange information and integrate these technologies in the future activities.