Responsible intelligence in policing: Building technology that protects life and privacy

Intelligence is at the heart of modern policing. The ability to see connections, understand context, and act quickly can transform how departments respond — helping officers anticipate threats, make informed decisions faster, and take action when seconds matter. As technology expands what’s possible, so does the duty to use it ethically. For Axon, that responsibility is the foundation of how we build.

We believe innovation should strengthen public safety while preserving privacy and trust. As agencies adopt real-time platforms and solutions to improve awareness, our goal is to ensure that every advancement we deliver reflects both security and accountability.

Expanding visibility with purpose

Roughly 75% of crimes involve a vehicle, making car-related data one of the most powerful investigative tools in policing. But vehicles move fast, cross jurisdictions, and leave little trace. For most agencies, capturing that vehicle information quickly and turning it into actionable intelligence isn’t easy.

We began addressing this challenge with Axon Fleet 3, our in-car system that delivers automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) and live video capabilities directly from patrol vehicles. Fleet 3 has read more than 8.1 billion license plates since release, contributing to over 20,000 felony arrests and 50,000 vehicle recoveries in the past year alone. These results demonstrated how powerful vehicle intelligence can be, and a connected view beyond the patrol car could only strengthen its capabilities.

That insight led to two new innovations in vehicle intelligence. Axon Outpost is a compact fixed camera that combines live streaming, ALPR, and vehicle attribute recognition — including make, model, and color — in one secure device. Axon Lightpost, developed with our partner Ubicquia, installs directly onto existing streetlights, transforming everyday infrastructure into real-time detection tools. Together with Fleet 3 and the Axon Fusus real-time operations platform, these systems help give agencies real-time awareness across their communities.

Data control by design

Powerful technology is only as trustworthy as the safeguards that protect it. At Axon, our intelligence ecosystem is designed to keep agencies in control of their data.

With Axon systems, the agency manages its own data settings — including retention periods, deletion rules, and access permissions — in line with its internal policies and applicable laws. Those configurations are administered by authorized personnel. Axon does not have the ability to independently access, alter, share, or delete any evidence. Our role is to provide the secure platform and tools, while chain of custody and data management decisions remain with the agency.

We ensure that security is built into every layer. All evidence and data are encrypted in transit and at rest. Each file includes an audit trail that tracks access activity to help ensure accountability. Within our systems, access is limited to what’s necessary for each user’s role and is regularly reviewed for compliance.

We believe that transparency builds trust — meaning that agencies can review audit logs, confirm chain of custody, and verify data access at any time. These capabilities support accountability and help maintain public confidence that digital evidence is handled securely from capture through resolution.

Responsible innovation in action

Technology can transform how public safety works, but only when it’s developed responsibly. Guided by our Responsible Innovation framework, we design every product to balance powerful capability with transparency, control, privacy, and partnership.

Our goal is simple: to create solutions that support human decision-making, helping first responders act with greater awareness while protecting the people they serve.

“We build with intention,” said Jeff Kunins, Axon’s Chief Product & Technology Officer. “Responsible Innovation is not just about avoiding harm—it’s about designing systems that work every day to make the right things easier and the wrong things harder.”

Building trust through responsible intelligence

Public safety technology must earn trust as much as it earns results. Communities deserve to know that the systems designed to keep them safe also protect their rights. For us, that means embedding privacy and accountability into every stage of product design.

Responsible intelligence gives agencies the awareness they need to act quickly and decisively — supported by data that is secure, auditable, and always under their control. It reinforces transparency between agencies and the communities they serve. And it sets a standard for how innovation should move forward: thoughtfully, transparently, and with respect for both safety and privacy.

As technology continues to reshape public safety, we see an opportunity to lead in both capability and integrity. We’re building for a future where innovation is measured not only by how much data can be captured, but also by how responsibly it’s used.

At Axon, that’s what progress looks like — technology that protects life and privacy with equal purpose.