Utah software developers build AI platform ShieldView to process evidence

Salt Lake City Software Developers Build Artificial Intelligence Platform to Process Evidence and Shield Law Enforcement Officers

Two Utah fathers with backgrounds in software and technology have developed an artificial intelligence platform called ShieldView to help law enforcement agencies process digital evidence faster while limiting officers’ exposure to traumatic material, ksl.com reported.

System Performance Overview:
• Utilizes 15 specialized artificial intelligence models to analyze video footage, audio recordings, text messages, financial records, and investigative documents.
• Designed to remove child sexual abuse material from Amazon Web Services infrastructure within 48 hours rather than store it permanently.

Chase Cutler and Mike Hawker, who reside in Lehi and Herriman respectively, created the platform after drawing on the experience of law enforcement investigators who spent 15 years reviewing images and videos of child sexual abuse. Hawker stated that the primary mission of the company is protecting investigators from repeated exposure to disturbing content while reducing their workloads and supporting mental well-being.

Rising CyberTipline Volume Creates Operational Backlogs for Utah Investigators

Law enforcement agencies throughout Utah face escalating numbers of suspected child sexual exploitation reports that complicate the review of digital evidence. According to data presented to the Utah Legislature, Utah received 6,034 CyberTipline reports in 2023, representing a 263% increase from the 1,661 reports received in 2019.

National figures reflect a similar upward trajectory. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported a 1,325% increase in CyberTipline reports involving generative artificial intelligence from 2023 to 2024, climbing from approximately 4,700 reports to 67,000. By 2025, that figure surpassed 400,000 reports connected to generative AI. Nationally, NCMEC data showed the organization received approximately 21.3 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation in 2025, involving more than 61 million files.

State prosecution numbers illustrate the local impact of these volumes. The Utah Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force prosecuted 71 cases and opened 129 new cases in 2024. Combined reporting from the Utah Attorney General’s Office and local law enforcement agencies showed 179 new cases opened in 2025.

Platform Architecture and Evidence Filtration Mechanisms

ShieldView deploys 15 specialized artificial intelligence models to parse through complex evidentiary files. The platform utilizes hash values—digital identifiers that recognize files previously cataloged by law enforcement—allowing investigators to bypass known abusive material without viewing it repeatedly. Hawker emphasized that human personnel retain responsibility for legal determinations and investigative decisions throughout any case.

Beyond child exploitation cases, the platform assists with fraud inquiries, stolen property tracking, and correctional facility monitoring. In one fraud investigation that previously spanned nine months, an agency processed evidence through ShieldView and isolated necessary information in approximately 60 minutes. In another instance involving a stolen firearm and roughly 6,000 pages of warrant-related documents, the technology located relevant details within minutes.

In correctional environments, the platform evaluates recorded jail calls to surface conversations that may suggest suicide risk, self-harm, or admissions of criminal activity without requiring staff to manually listen to every audio file. ShieldView features report-writing tools intended to save patrol officers approximately two hours per shift.

AWS Infrastructure Restricts Access to Sensitive Records

Because the platform handles sensitive investigative records, development priorities focused heavily on security and legal compliance. ShieldView worked with Amazon Web Services to construct infrastructure that restricts employee access.

The system automatically purges child sexual abuse material from its servers within 48 hours. Hawker noted that these operational constraints prevent unauthorized personnel from viewing sensitive files while ensuring investigators can still extract necessary evidentiary leads.

Pilot Programs Mitigate Slow Government Procurement Cycles

Government purchasing procedures frequently hinder law enforcement agencies from adopting new investigative software quickly. ShieldView stated that standard procurement cycles span between 12 and 18 months due to budget constraints and administrative mandates.

To mitigate these delays, ShieldView offers 60-to-90-day free pilot programs and financial discounts to interested departments, accompanied by weekly support from team members with law enforcement backgrounds. Hawker noted that smaller departments often lack the financial resources of larger agencies, and the founders intend to prevent resource disparities from blocking access to protective technology.