GPT-NL in the making: a language model based on Dutch law
With GPT-NL, the Netherlands has its own language model starting this year.
Published on January 28, 2025
Team IO+ selects and features the most important news stories on innovation and technology, carefully curated by our editors.
The security industry has many documents, such as reports, lawsuits and wiretaps. It is difficult to quickly find the right information in all these documents. A language model can help with this, as long as it has a good understanding of how Dutch law works. Also, confidential information must remain well protected. With GPT-NL, the Netherlands has its own language model starting this year.
This project, a collaboration between TNO, SURF and the Netherlands Forensic Institute, safeguards the digital sovereignty of the Netherlands. This model has been specially developed for applications within the security domain, from police services to the Public Prosecution Service, and can be adapted to the most sensitive and critical applications.
GPT-NL is thus a kind of foundation on which agencies can build further. Applications, such as for the police, require further development. Thus, different models are emerging, with information remaining within an organization. During 2025, the model is already being deployed.
GPT-NL has no loophole
In a video, Saskia Lensink, TNO Consultant, explains how the new language model works and why it is important for the central government. She emphasizes that everything the government does and writes down should be accessible to everyone, and language models can play a big role in this.
While you can use ChatGPT, for example, for simple tasks, such as a St. Nicholas poem, sometimes you may want to use a language model for more sensitive documents, such as government information, police reports or health insurance documents. Lensink points out that even experts, who know a lot about this technology, often don't fully understand how models like ChatGPT work. This makes it even more important to always remain critical. No “backdoor” is built into GPT-NL that allows people to look in, and the AVG, for example, is strictly adhered to.
Huge amount of computing power
This project is important because the development of such technology requires a lot of computing power, something that individuals or small companies find difficult to afford, Lensink explained. Thanks to the collaboration with supercomputer company SURF, among others, the project actually has a lot of computing power at its disposal.
Moreover, many experts from different organizations are brought together. This allows them to thoroughly investigate what falls within the framework of the law.
Autonomous Europe
With GPT-NL we are taking a big step towards an autonomous Europe in 2040, in which AI works according to European standards and values.
Cyber threats surge: European start-ups offer innovation in digital security
The EU faces a significant increase in cyberattacks, raising concerns.