Use of modern digital technologies to document criminal activities related to virtual den

The article is devoted to the problem of identifying and recording the facts of criminal offences related to the organisation of prostitution and involvement in prostitution in the virtual environment. The article considers changes in the structure and forms of prostitution in the conditions of globalisation and informatisation of society towards the transformation of prostitution into an online environment, as well as the growing involvement of organised criminal groups in this sphere. It is noted that organised criminal groups are highly conspiratorial in this segment. Typical digital traces of virtual brothels are considered, and the Internet platforms used for placing advertisements and information about intimate services are analysed. The limitations of legislation in the sphere of operative-search activity, which hinder access to operationally significant information through operative-search activities directly related to obtaining computer information, are analysed. Attention is focused on the use of not only classical forms of operative-search activities to record criminal activity, but also forms involving the integration of computer technologies. As a solution, the introduction of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies is proposed to automate the analysis of big data, to identify links between disparate resources and to record information of both operational and evidentiary value. Special attention is paid to the methods of digital surveillance, including monitoring of thematic channels, recording photos and feedback from clients of prostitutes. The rapid development of technologies for machine processing of photographs is emphasised, which creates conditions for the use of these capabilities in solving the issues of personal identification (operational identification). The conclusion formulates recommendations to improve the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in the field of identification of the designated area of criminal activity: legislative regulation of the use of artificial intelligence technologies in operational and investigative activities, creation of a secure technological infrastructure, training of employees of operational and investigative units to work with digital tools. It is summarised that technologies should complement, not replace human resources, providing a balance between the use of classical methods and ways of conducting operational-search activities and their digital forms. The article is addressed to specialists in the field of criminalistics, operative-search activity, preliminary investigation of crimes.