This project, Die Polizei, De Polizei*, conducted as part of the Perspectives in Design course, critically examines HessenData, a data analysis tool used by the Hessian police department and based on Palantir’s Gotham software. Declared unconstitutional by Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court, HessenData exemplifies the challenges posed by predictive policing systems, particularly their lack of transparency and potential for misuse. The research employed interdisciplinary methodologies, including 3D modeling, archival analysis, and design research, culminating in the creation of an artistic video work titled Sicherheit neu denken (Rethinking Security).

The project began with a technical mapping of HessenData’s functionality and its integration of disparate datasets into actionable insights for law enforcement. Despite attempts to engage experts through interviews, the opacity surrounding the system—rooted in corporate secrecy—limited direct access to technical details. The team responded by synthesizing publicly available information into visual representations, such as a JavaScript-based map that illustrates HessenData’s data flows and interactions.

The final video work combines AI-generated visuals, archival footage, 3D renderings, and corporate-inspired aesthetics to critique the epistemic opacity of predictive policing tools. Drawing on literary references like Borges’ The Library of Babel, the work explores themes of surveillance, algorithmic governance, and data-driven decision-making. Installed within a repurposed server cabinet alongside interactive projections, the piece transforms abstract data processes into tangible visual experiences.

This project highlights the risks of deploying black-box technologies in law enforcement without adequate oversight or understanding. By merging artistic and journalistic approaches, it raises critical questions about accountability, data privacy, and the societal implications of predictive policing. The work has been submitted to film festivals and exhibitions and serves as both a reflective critique and a call for greater transparency in algorithmic systems.