JAKARTA Europol warns that organized crime groups are increasingly taking advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to commit fraud and illegal payment systems. This allows them to expand operations globally more quickly and lower costs, and makes them even more difficult to detect.
In the European Serious Organized Crime Threat Assessment report, released Tuesday, March 18, the EU law enforcement agency said that AI technology allows criminals to create messages in various languages and emulate individuals for extortion in global-scale cyber fraud operations.
In addition, Europol also revealed that genre AI has been used to produce child sexual exploitation material. It has also become a serious concern in efforts to eradicate cybercrime.
"DNA organized crime is changing. Criminal networks have evolved into technology-based global criminal companies, exploiting digital platforms, illegal financial flows, and geopolitical instability to expand their influence," said Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle.
The report highlights that every aspect of modern crime is now shifting to the digital realm, including recruitment of members, communications, and payment systems.
"The AI quality that made it revolutionary for its accessibility, adaptability, and sophistication also made it a very powerful tool for criminal networks," Europol said.
SEE ALSO:
According to the report, the emergence of fully autonomous AI, in which the system can plan and carry out tasks without human interference. This has the potential to create a criminal network that is fully controlled by AI, which will mark a new era of organized crime.
In February 2025, Europol announced the arrest of two dozen people involved in the spread of images of AI-generative child exploitation. The operation is one of the first in eradicating AI-based crime, although Europol highlights that there is still a national regulatory shortage related to the use of AI technology for criminal purposes like this.
In addition, in December 2024, Europol managed to close the MATRIX encrypted messaging service, which was previously used for drug trafficking and cross-border weapons.
In a recent report, Europol also noted that cyberattacks, smuggling of migrants, drug and arms trafficking, as well as abuse in waste management are among the rapidly growing criminal threats in Europe.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
