Ohio Homeland Security launched Safeguard Ohio on Sept. 12, a new suspicious activity reporting app that utilizes artificial intelligence to collect information regarding potential violent threats.
The app, announced in a press release by the OHS, utilizes an AI chatbot that prompts users with pertinent questions regarding the potential crime.
The reporting system is available on the OHS website and does not replace 9-1-1. The AI will analyze the information a user is submitting, and if it deems the report to be an imminent threat, it will direct you to call 9-1-1. The AI will also provide the Crisis Text Line and the suicide hotline if it analyzes an individual may be having mental health issues.
The application is also focused on being user-friendly, and can be used in 11 different languages, including Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Haitian, Hindi, Nepalese, Somali, Yiddish and Arabic.
“This is just opening up that aperture to give our citizens more of an opportunity to share that information,” executive director of OHS Mark Porter said. “It allows those that speak maybe English not so well, or it's not their first language, it opens that aperture up to them.”
Safeguard Ohio was developed by OHS and its private partner Vigiliti, following the state's previous tip reporting application that required the user to either call the OHS office or submit a form on the state's website. Additionally, the form did not include follow-up questions and put the burden of deciding what pertinent information to include on the user, according to Porter.
The old platform only allowed users to report threats under the category of counter terrorism. With the new app, users can submit tips falling under eight categories, including human trafficking, gun-related school threats, drug-related tips, crimes against children and financial crimes.
The previous average number of reports that OHS received a month was around 30, form January to June this year, according to Porter. After the system's soft release Aug. 6, the number of tips during the one month nearly tripled to 93.
Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety Andy Wilson commented on why the new AI chatbot can help mitigate past issues.
“As the person reports what they find suspicious, if it's vague or it's incomplete, that AI chatbot basically fleshes out, uses questions to flesh out specifics that we would need to make a good assessment,” Wilson said. “So we want to make sure that we're getting granular enough information, specific enough information to do a good assessment on whether or not the threat is credible.”
After submitting a tip, users receive a QR code they can then download and use for up to 30 days after the report was made, and it stays on the dashboard of OHS for 30 days. The QR code allows users to upload any additional information they might observe or have forgotten to include regarding their reported crime.
Porter believes the app will appeal to younger generations who are more present on their phones. He claims the simple and easy-to-use application will bring more reports and allow their job to get done.
The application allows for a user to upload photos, audio or videos to the report that may be important to the claim.
“In the past, you could not share audio, video or photos with us through our website,” Porter said. “Now, this will allow someone who is seeing something on site, you are there in town, you want to record it, you are taking photos. You can upload that stuff as a part of the app, and it will ask you for that.”
The app has been undergoing development for around two years. Porter signaled the app stands as a conduit between the federal government and local governments; the mission of the OHS is public safety. He mentioned public safety has become a growing concern for the entire country.
“We feel that with getting more tips, getting more leads, getting more suspicious activity is a good thing,” Porter said. “And it's going to help make our local community safer by increasing our activity and getting this kind of information and sharing it with our state and local representatives.”
