Do civil society organizations speak on behalf of civil society? It’s complicated.
In the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025’s chapter dedicated to Civil Security for Society, we can read the following statement: In the field of security research, it is particularly important that projects take into account human factors and the societal context, and ensure the respect of fundamental rights, including privacy and protection of personal data. […]
Strengthening Disaster Resilience: The Power of Civil Society Organizations in Security Research
In an increasingly unpredictable world, the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in disaster resilience has never been more crucial. During a perspective workshop of the TRANSCEND pilot on Disaster Resilient Societies, led by the Austrian Red Cross, numerous CSOs presented relevant success stories. Speakers at the workshop included: Shaji Ahmed, CEO of Code for […]
Understanding the TRANSCEND Toolbox: Introducing the “Game”
Recently, the TRANSCEND project delivered the TRANCEND Toolbox version 2, with various methods in it: Methods to organise societal engagement or citizen involvement, i.e. to organise collaboration between government, industry, research and citizens or Civil Society Organisations in the development or deployment of technologies in the security domain; Methods to discuss and assess various ethical, […]
The role of citizen engagement in AI for policing and law enforcement: TRANSCEND meets ALIGNER.
The Artificial Intelligence Roadmap for Policing and Law Enforcement (ALIGNER) project, which is funded by the European Commission, aims to connect European stakeholders who have reservations about the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by law enforcement authorities. Together, they discuss ways in which the use of AI can improve security in Europe while increasing the […]
Strengthening Security Through Citizen Participation: Insights from the Efus Security, Democracy and Cities Conference
In today’s interconnected world, security threats that transcend borders and traditional boundaries are increasing. Addressing these challenges requires an innovative approach and the active participation of those most affected – city residents. The Efus Security, Democracies, and Cities Conference held in Brussels from March 20-22 2024, served as a crucial platform for discussing these issues. […]
Practical Tips for Citizen Engagement: Insights from TRANSCEND’s First Pilot
In today’s fast-paced world, disaster preparedness has become more critical than ever. With the rise of technology, innovative solutions like smartphone applications are transforming how individuals can prepare for emergencies. “Team Österreich app” utilizes a smartphone app to empower citizens to enhance their disaster preparedness. The Team Österreich app was launched by the Austrian […]
Exploring Impact Assessments: Insights from the Security Industry and Local Authorities
In our pursuit of advanced impact assessment methodologies complemented by on-the-ground insights, TRANSCEND partners EOS and Efus conducted two surveys to (1) understand the utilization of impact assessment methods by solution providers and the broader security industry, and (2) explore how local authorities incorporate ethical, human rights, and societal considerations when using security technologies. In this […]
How do we define “citizen”, and why does it matter?
Security research stakeholders and the absence of the “citizen” Security research does not take place in a vacuum, but within a complex social and institutional framework. In TRANSCEND, we distinguish between “actors”, who actively participate in the design of a technical system, “users”, who work with or adopt the finished systems, and finally “affected parties”, […]
Navigating the Landscape of Citizen Engagement Methods for Enhanced Security Research
As we witness the emergence of groundbreaking security technologies, it becomes increasingly evident that their development should not occur in isolation. Instead, it demands active involvement from citizens and diverse societal actors to ensure ethical considerations, human rights, and societal values are at the forefront of innovation. Societal engagement in security research is not merely […]
Navigating the landscape of impact assessment methodologies for security technologies
Technology plays a pivotal role in ensuring security within our society. However, using technologies to this end can have both positive and negative impacts on individuals and social groups. Being aware of these impacts allows us to guide our efforts in order to enhance positive impacts, mitigate negative ones, or balance the two. Recent decades […]
