The digital assistant reviews publicly available material on platforms including Facebook and Instagram for content that may document violations of park regulations in southern Poland.
The material is then analysed and verified, park authorities said.
The most common violations detected involve leaving designated hiking trails and entering areas of the park when tourist access is prohibited, according to park rangers.
The types of violations vary by season. In winter, the Cyber Ranger most frequently found material showing people skiing or snowboarding in areas where such activities are not permitted.
One notable group of cases involved people damaging crocuses in the Chochołowska Valley area after leaving designated trails, the rangers said.
Other cases included placing signs or other markings in the park in violation of regulations and driving vehicles into areas where access is prohibited.
The park’s rangers stressed that posting a photo or video does not in itself constitute an offence and that each case is assessed individually. In practice, however, material posted online can often help establish both what happened and the identity of the person involved.
Since the Cyber Ranger was introduced in March, 36 cases involving alleged violations in the Tatra National Park have been opened in this way, according to park authorities. A total of 56 people have been identified as having committed offences.
Authorities have issued 23 fines totalling PLN 6,500 (EUR 1,500, USD 1,700), while two people were given warnings, Poland’s PAP news agency reported. Three cases have been referred to court, it said.
The park is still waiting for 11 people to appear in connection with ongoing proceedings, while in seven cases it has asked police to assist with procedures at the individuals' places of residence. In 10 cases, the identities of suspected offenders have yet to be established.
Police assistance is sought after park rangers have exhausted their own options for establishing a person's identity or when, for example, someone needs to be questioned.
Cases can also be initiated following reports submitted online by other tourists.
This season has seen a number of high-profile violations of the Tatra National Park's strict rules. Tourists have been filmed bathing in Morskie Oko, a picturesque mountain lake, and in other protected lakes and ponds, where swimming is prohibited.
(gs)
Source: PAP