Austrian police revolutionize search technology

During a site visit to the Federal Criminal Police Office’s investigative technology department, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, Federal Criminal Police Office Director Andreas Holzer, and Helmut Leopold from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology presented the innovative “BioCapture” technology. This technology allows police officers to scan fingerprints of individuals who cannot identify themselves or otherwise be clearly identified directly on-site using their official smartphones and compare them with various databases. This enables wanted criminals and illegally residing individuals to be clearly identified and apprehended on the spot.

“The search for criminals will become even more modern, faster and more efficient,” emphasized Interior Minister Gerhard Karner during a presentation of the new technology, speaking of a “small international sensation” that Austria had achieved.

“A strong technology and innovation hub thrives on developing future solutions early on, rather than waiting until they are needed. With our industrial strategy, we have defined nine key technologies and areas of strength that are of paramount importance for Austria. These include AI and sensor technology, which form the basis for the digital identity management system presented today. The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology plays a crucial role here by initiating innovations early on, thereby strengthening Austria’s technological leadership and sovereignty,” explained Innovation and Technology Minister Peter Hanke.

Fast, efficient and secure on-site inspection

“BioCapture” was developed, tested, and legally implemented into police applications over several years. The technology represents a significant advancement in police identity verification and is also attracting considerable international interest from other police and security authorities.

The biometric data (fingerprints) are compared with existing databases within minutes – police officers can determine on the spot whether individuals are wanted and whether they are legally residing in Austria. This eliminates the need for additional equipment or – as was previously the case – the transport of detainees to police stations. Decisions regarding further police measures can be made immediately on site – quickly, efficiently, and legally sound.

The system offers advantages for both the police and those being checked: For the police, the new technology means a significant time saving in operational deployments and a noticeable reduction in administrative workload. But it also benefits those being checked who cannot provide identification, as verification is possible on-site and they no longer have to travel to a police station for data verification.

A key aspect of the development was the consistent adherence to strict data protection and legal requirements. The captured fingerprints are used exclusively for immediate comparison, are not stored, and are deleted after the process is complete.

Investigation successes during trial operation – nationwide implementation by the end of the year

Since August 2025, the technology has been in use by selected police units, such as the immigration police. Since the beginning of March 2026, the Vienna rapid response unit has also been integrated into the test operation.

Andreas Holzer, Director of the Federal Criminal Police Office, draws a positive conclusion: “The initial results speak for themselves: 170 hits were achieved in the AFIS system during 643 checks, and several wanted persons were identified despite providing false information. A suspected drug dealer was also tracked down and arrested.”

Feedback from field officers has also been consistently positive – particularly the ease of use, speed, and high accuracy of the results are highlighted, as they greatly facilitate police work and procedures. Nationwide rollout, so that all police officers can use the application on their service mobile phones, is planned for the end of this year.

International interest in Austrian technology

“BioCapture” is a joint development of the Federal Criminal Police Office, the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), and other research partners. The technology is also attracting considerable international interest and will be presented by Austria at a UN event in New York.

“We must not simply buy technology and thereby create dependencies, but must consistently work on its further development ourselves in order to create and maintain digital sovereignty,” emphasized Helmut Leopold, Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security at the Austrian Institute of Technology.

A further development step is the connection to European biometric systems from 2027 onwards. This will make it possible to access a database of up to 400 million people – a significant step forward for international police cooperation.