The Impact of Information Technology Development on the Methods and Means of Operational Investigative Activities: Current State and Prospects

The article examines the impact of information technology development on the methods and means of operational investigative activities. It analyzes the current state of IT use in operational investigative activities, prospects for their further implementation, as well as the role of information technologies in modern crime, including the use of encryption, anonymous networks, cloud storage, cryptocurrencies, and social engineering methods by criminals. The necessity of improving the system of operational investigative information and introducing new technologies into the activities of operational units for effective counteraction to high-tech crime is substantiated. Gaps in legislation are analyzed and ways to improve it are proposed. Typical operational investigative situations arising in the detection and solving of IT crimes, including remote fraud, are considered, and their classification is proposed. It is concluded that the development of IT opens up new opportunities for both criminals and operational units. The key promising areas are the integration of information systems, the use of artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain analysis, and the development of methods for detecting electronic traces. The implementation of these areas will improve the effectiveness of operational investigative activities, strengthen the information and analytical capabilities of operational units, and more successfully counter modern forms of crime.