Interpol Launches ID-Art App to Identify Stolen Artworks

On May 6, Interpol released ID-Art, a free mobile app available on Apple Store and Android Play Store, allowing anyone—not just law enforcement—to access its database of 56,000 stolen artworks. Users can take or upload a photo to trigger image recognition software and receive immediate feedback on whether a work is reported stolen. The app provides key identifying information but not the full investigative data. It is designed for collectors performing due diligence before purchases, as well as for public collaboration in reporting suspected stolen pieces. The project began in 2016 and underwent testing earlier this year, during which Italy's Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage used it to identify two stolen statues listed for sale on an online platform. ID-Art uses the Object ID standard and allows users to register their own artworks in a private folder that is only shared with Interpol if the work is stolen. It also enables geolocated reporting of at-risk sites to aid recovery in case of looting or destruction. Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock called the app a significant step forward for police, heritage professionals, and the public in protecting shared heritage. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone described it as a milestone in the international fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property.