Q4/2019 - 7th Europol-Interpol Cybercrime Conference

The Hague, 9 – 11 October 2019

The 7th Europol-INTERPOL Cybercrime Conference was held in The Hague from 9 to 11 October 2019 under the theme “Law enforcement in a connected future”. It focused on the topics of artificial intelligence and the related possibilities for improving policing, the risks and consequences of the development of 5G networks for crime control, cross-border access to information in investigation proceedings, obstacles to international cooperation in the field of cybercrime, new developments in the field of cryptocurrencies, data protection and cyber-training programs for the police.

In his opening speech, Interpol's Director of Cybercrime, Craig Jones, pointed out that cybercrime was increasing at high speed and that criminals were constantly transforming their tactics. Cybercrime had become a "business model". Law enforcement authorities were often lagging behind in this "digital race". This trend had to be stopped and reversed.

INTERPOL introduced a new program at the conference that is aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers and risks associated with cybercrime ('#BECareful). INTERPOL also presented a first comprehensive cybercrime threat assessment of new trends. One trend identified is a shift of hacker attacks from stationary computers to mobile devices, not least due to the fact that many new payment systems are handled via smartphones[1].

Cybercrime was also the focus of the INTERPOL General Assembly, which took place in Santiago de Chile from 15 to 18 October 2019 and was attended by 900 delegates from 162 countries. At the conference, the German Jürgen Stock was confirmed in office as Interpol Secretary General. Stock said that the fight against cybercrime was going to be one of the priorities of his second term of office[2]. 

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INTERPOL/EUROPOLQ4/2019
  1. [1] Fighting cybercrime in a connected world, 6. Europol-Interpol Cybercrime Conference examined latest cyber threats, trends and strategies, Den Haag, 11. Oktober 2019, in:
  2. [2] Jürgen Stock appointed for second term as Interpol Secretary General, Santiago de Chile, 16 October 2019, „Secretary General Stock enters his second and last term having implemented a number of key changes in four areas: improve core business services to police, establish strong partnerships, embrace innovation, and strengthen governance structures and mechanisms. These include: The introduction of three global programmes: Counter-Terrorism, Organized and Emerging Crime, and Cybercrime, which form the basis of all Interpol’s policing activities. The creation of a specialized task force to review every Red Notice request and wanted persons diffusion. The launch of a working group on governance to review the legal framework around the Organization’s governing bodies. A change in the funding model to focus more on public sector contributions. Today 95 per cent of Interpol’s voluntary funding is from partnerships with government agencies. A central tenet of the Secretary General’s vision for the Organization’s future is the I-Core initiative“, in: https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2019/Juergen-Stock-appointed-for-second-term-as-INTERPOL-Secretary-General