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1 Sarah Grand-Clement, Project D-Tect: Assessing Technologies to Counter the Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons 1 (2024)

handle is hein.unl/prtdtc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: PROJECT D-TECT Assessing technologies to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons Sarah Grand-Clement (UNIDIR) Based on a series of stakeholder engagements, this paper examines the relevance and appli- cability of 14 technologies to support or strengthen efforts to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The technologies examined are: 2D codes, chemical encoding, DNA coding, document authentication, electronic seals, GNSS and mobile tracking, near-field communication, radio-frequency identification, sensors, Internet of Things, distributed ledger technology, big data analysis, natural language processing, and computer vision. All technologies were assessed as having potential relevance in helping to counter SALW diversion. The types of technologies identified as most relevant tended to differ depending on the life cycle stage (i.e., pre-export, transfer or post-delivery) and counter-diversion element (i.e., prevention, detection or identification), with technologies better suited at detecting or identifying diversion rather than preventing its occurrence. However, because the choice of a specific technology should be based on context and need, this paper does not recommend specific technologies, or a combination thereof, to help counter diversion. Infrastructural and cost requirements were assessed as posing the highest barriers to the successful implementation of the technologies. Additionally, the adoption of a technology will also necessitate overcoming several systemic barriers. These include fragmentation among the multiple actors involved in SALW, practicalities of technology development and adoption, lack of infrastructure (digital, physical, regulatory) surrounding the technology, cost of tech- nology, national security considerations, lack of sufficient knowledgeable personnel, and need for data and data management. The paper provides a non-exhaustive overview of possible options which could be undertaken to overcome or mitigate these barriers, including strengthening international and regional collaboration and inter-agency cooperation, building up the evidence and knowledge base, reinforcing or establishing the appropriate physical, regulatory and digital infrastructure, and undertaking institutional capacity-building and individual training.