INTERPOL-Europol 8th Cybercrime Conference: enhancing partnerships against cybercrime

Stepping up public sector partnerships in the face of increasingly pervasive cybercrime threats was the theme of the 8th INTERPOL-Europol Cybercrime Conference. 

Taking place online for the first time, the one-day conference (6 October 2020) saw more than 400 cyber experts from law enforcement, private industry, international organizations, CERTs and academia tune in to discussions on emerging cyber threats, trends and strategies.

Recent findings from both INTERPOL and Europol have made clear that cybercriminals around the world have been able to capitalize on the global COVID-19 pandemic, turning the health crisis into an opportunity. At the same time, the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation and increased our reliance on connectivity and digital tools. With rapid developments in the global cyber landscape, closer collaboration between law enforcement and sectors to deal with the ever-changing nature of cybercrime has become increasingly pressing.

Europol’s Executive Director Catherine de Bolle said: “The circumstances of this year have called for a shorter – virtual – event, but the importance of this conference remains unchanged. If anything, the events of this year have served as a sobering reminder that strong partnerships are central in the fight against cybercrime. Such challenges can only be addressed in an agile and pro-active manner, be it through public-public partnerships or cooperation with the private sector. It is about uniting our strengths in light of a common interest – a safer and more secure cyberspace”.

The conference not only looked back at 2020 but aimed to address upcoming challenges and invited law enforcement, governments and non-government organisations to add an agile and proactive approach to cybersecurity in their daily work.

The event also featured a dedicated presentation on the 2020 edition of the Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA), detailing some of the findings and recommendations included in the report. The IOCTA was launched on 05 October..

 “In a world where more than 4.5 billion people are online, more than half of humanity is at risk of falling victim to cybercrime at any time,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

“Information is the key enabler that can bring us together and make us stronger in the fight against cybercrime. Aggregating national datasets on cybercrime on a global scale is therefore crucial and INTERPOL is uniquely placed to lead this global effort together with our member countries and partners,” the INTERPOL Chief added.