Chennai: Young coders and tech enthusiasts collaborated with law enforcement officials to tackle cybercrimes such as dark web transactions, cryptocurrency fraud, and Telegram scams. The ‘TN Police Hackathon 2024‘ offered a glimpse into how Tamil Nadu police may use technology to track cybercriminals.
Held at the Cyber Crime Wing headquarters, the event challenged participants to create working prototypes addressing real-world cyber offences. From 315 initial submissions, 54 teams advanced to the first round, and 15 finalists were chosen after evaluation by experts from IIT Madras and ELCOT.
One of the challenges focused on developing an AI system called ‘DarkEye’ to track illegal activities on the dark web, helping law enforcement identify hidden threats. Another task, ‘TorUnveil,’ aimed at uncovering the identities of users on Tor Mail, a platform often used for secret and illegal communication. ‘VoIPCrack’ was designed to intercept and analyse VoIP calls, which scammers frequently use to avoid being traced.
Participants also worked on a system to monitor Telegram groups for fraudulent investment schemes, which are widely used to deceive victims. Another key challenge involved detecting and analysing social media ads promoting cyber frauds, helping authorities flag deceptive advertisements before they spread.
Techies developed functional models in real time, demonstrating how their solutions could fit into law enforcement frameworks. Some innovations may now be studied for feasibility and integration into Tamil Nadu police’s cybercrime investigations.
The top three teams from RMK College of Engineering and Technology, Karunya Institute of Technology and Science, and St Joseph College of Engineering won cash prizes of 1,00,000, 75,000, and 50,000 respectively. Additionally, 12 other shortlisted teams received recognition and cash rewards.
Director general of police Shankar Jiwal, who presided over the event, stressed the importance of continued collaboration between law enforcement and the tech community.