Within the year 2024, three million documents and images from the physical archives of the former State Security of Albania are scheduled for digitization and indexing, offering a swift and effective gateway for researchers and individuals with an interest in historical records.

The process of scanning and indexing these archival materials has commenced with File No. 1 of Criminal Investigation Files, and it will continue to encompass all documents generated by the former State Security structures from 1944 to 1991.

This initiative is set to establish a digital archive under the jurisdiction of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents, keeping pace with the technological advancements.

The utilization of scanned documents, serving as authentic duplicates of the originals, maintains data quality, resolves real-time document management complexities, enhances workforce productivity, safeguards the integrity of delicate original documents, and, most importantly, ensures expedited access for users.

In today’s world, where electronic data plays a pivotal role and evolves rapidly, digital archives are instrumental in improving efficiency, security, and data accessibility. The indexing process based on funds and document creation in PDF format further streamlines the material identification process.

The development of a catalog containing scanned archival documents and a photo archive, compiled from collections of photographs and images found in the files, will greatly benefit researchers working on projects with a focus on historical dictatorships.

Access to the records of secret police from totalitarian regimes holds both personal and scientific significance.

The Authority is an autonomous institution responsible for collecting, managing, processing former State Security documents, and facilitating public access. This initiative aims to support public education and enable any interested party to exercise their right to access information about former State Security documents.