AXJ JOINS THE EUROPEAN CYBERCRIME CENTRE

A collective EU response to cybercrime

Following a feasibility study conducted by Rand Corporation Europe, the European Commission decided to establish a European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol. The Centre will be the focal point in the EU’s fight against cybercrime, contributing to faster reactions in the event of online crimes. It will support Member States and the European Union’s institutions in building operational and analytical capacity for investigations and cooperation with international partners.

EC3 officially commenced its activities on 1 January 2013 with a mandate to tackle the following areas of cybercrime:

European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3)

That committed by organised groups to generate large criminal profits such as online fraud
That which causes serious harm to the victim such as online child sexual exploitation
That which affects critical infrastructure and information systems in the European Union

EC3 aims to become the focal point in the EU’s fight against cybercrime, through building operational and analytical capacity for investigations and cooperation with international partners in the pursuit of an EU free from cybercrime.

The European Cybercrime Centre is hosted by Europol; the European law enforcement agency in The Hague, The Netherlands, and thus EC3 can draw on Europol’s existing infrastructure and law enforcement network.

Cybercrime: A growing global problem

With so much of our everyday communication and commercial activity now taking place via the Internet, the threat from cybercrime is increasing, targeting citizens, businesses and governments at a rapidly growing rate. The EU in particular is a key target because of its advanced Internet infrastructure and increasingly Internet-based economies and payment systems.

The scale of cybercriminal activity represents a considerable challenge to law enforcement agencies and the total cost of cybercrime to society is significant. A recent report suggests that victims lose around €290 billion each year worldwide as a result of cybercrime, making it more profitable than the global trade in marijuana, cocaine and heroin combined.

Joining forces to catch the criminals

Investigations into online fraud, child abuse and other crimes regularly involve hundreds of victims at a time, and suspects in many different parts of the world. Operations of this magnitude cannot be successfully concluded by national police forces alone. No crime is as borderless as cybercrime, requiring law enforcement authorities to adopt a coordinated and collaborative approach across borders, together with public and private stakeholders alike. It is here that the European Cybercrime Centre will add significant value.

Europol is already Europe’s specialist law enforcement centre for operational support, coordination and expertise in cybercrime. The European Cybercrime Centre will provide a more collaborative response in cooperation with:

EU Member States;
key EU stakeholders;
non-EU countries;
international organisations;
internet governance bodies and service providers;
companies involved in internet security and the financial sector;
academic experts;
civil society organisations;
National Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and the CERT-EU.

Director of Europol, Rob Wainwright, said:

"The establishment of the European Cybercrime Centre will be a landmark development in the EU's fight against cybercrime. I am delighted that the Commission has proposed its establishment at Europol. Organised crime groups, terrorist groups and other criminals are quick to exploit the opportunities afforded by developments in technology, and the time is ripe for the authorities to get one step ahead. The European Cybercrime Centre will provide governments, businesses and citizens throughout the Union with the tools to tackle cybercrime. Building on Europol's proven track record and unique expertise in this area, and with the support of the Member States, other EU bodies, international partners, and the private sector, the European Cybercrime Centre will make the EU smarter, faster and stronger in its fight against cybercrime."

iOCTA - Threat Assessment on Internet Facilitated Organised Crime

EC3 Programme Board

The advisory role of the EC3 Programme Board assists the centre in its governance process.

The members of the Programme Board are currently:

EUCTF (European Union Cybercrime Taskforce)

CIRCAMP (COSPOL Internet Related Child Abusive Material Project)

ENISA (European Network and Information Security Agency)

ECTEG (European Cybercrime Training and Education Group)

CEPOL (European Police College)

EUROJUST (European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit)

CERT-EU (Computer Emergency Response Team)

INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization)