The Kerala Police has begun a series of programmes in Kochi ahead of c0c0n 2026, bringing together law-enforcement officials, technology experts, policymakers and students to address emerging cybersecurity challenges.
The programmes preceding one of Asia's largest global cybersecurity gatherings include Project Lighthouse India 2026, HAC’KP 2026 (Hack for Policing) and KidGlove. They focus on combating cybercrimes against children, applying Artificial Intelligence to criminal investigations and improving digital safety among students and parents.
Senior IPS officers from across the country, representatives of international law-enforcement agencies, technology experts, policymakers, academicians, students and teachers are being brought together on one platform as part of the event.
Chief Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who is also the home minister, will be among those attending the event.
As part of the initiatives, the seventh edition of HAC’KP, Kerala Police Cyberdome's national hackathon initiative, is focusing on developing technological solutions for real-world policing challenges. This year's theme is 'Agentic AI for Investigations – From Evidence to Intelligence.' The programme explores how multiple AI agents and tools can work together under human supervision to collect and analyse information and connect different pieces of evidence.
More than 1,100 entries were received from across India. Following regional pitching at 11 venues in six states, 50 innovators were selected for a residential boot camp at Crowne Plaza, Kochi, from October 5 to 8.
Participants will refine, integrate and test their products under the guidance of police officers and technology mentors. A ₹10 lakh prize pool has been announced, and the winners will be declared during c0c0n 2026.
Project Lighthouse India 2026, scheduled for October 6 and 7, will bring senior IPS officers together for a strategic leadership programme aimed at tackling Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
The programme seeks to strengthen interstate coordination and enable officers to exchange investigative experience and strategies for combating technology-enabled crimes against children.
Sessions will cover threat assessment and offender profiling, PhotoDNA, deepfake forensic tools, cryptocurrency tracing and Open-Source Intelligence. Discussions will also cover a proposed AI-based National Victim Identification Database, legal reforms and mental-health support for investigators.
The third major initiative, KidGlove, seeks to equip children to protect themselves in the digital world through an activity-based approach rather than conventional awareness lectures. More than 1,000 awareness classes have already been conducted in schools across Kerala.
A KidGlove Model United Nations programme on October 7 will bring together 175 students from across Kerala to discuss cyber governance, digital rights and safety, AI and ethics, and prevention of online abuse against children.
The KidGlove Summit on October 8 will host more than 1,500 delegates, including 600 students. Separate tracks will cater to students, parents and educators, and police and policymakers.
