AI, Crypto, and Hired Hitmen: The Disturbing New Face of Crime

The Digital Transformation Playbook

Criminal networks are evolving at breakneck speed, transforming from mere profit-seekers into sophisticated entities that actively destabilize our societies. What was once distant has become alarmingly close – shootings in major European cities, drug trades in our communities, and digital threats in our homes.

This transformation represents a fundamental shift in the DNA of crime itself. Criminal organizations now deliberately erode trust in institutions and undermine the rule of law while establishing parallel financial systems designed to protect their wealth. Despite substantial investments in law enforcement, an astonishing 98% of criminal proceeds remain uncaptured in the EU, highlighting a critical vulnerability in our defences.
The digital world has become crime's new ecosystem, not just a tool. Both traditional and emerging criminal activities leverage online platforms for recruitment, marketing illicit goods, and financial transactions. Meanwhile, AI and other technologies have dramatically accelerated criminal capabilities. Generative AI creates hyper-realistic fraud, sophisticated malware, and even abuse material with minimal technical expertise. The frightening prospect of entirely AI-controlled criminal networks – where algorithms identify targets, manage logistics, and automate financial flows – may soon become reality.
These networks employ devastatingly effective cross-cutting tactics: sophisticated money laundering operations using both cash and cryptocurrencies, infiltration of legitimate businesses, systemic corruption, and increasingly organized violence. Perhaps most disturbing is the exploitation of young people as "disposable assets" recruited through social media platforms.
From cyber attacks and online fraud to child exploitation, drug trafficking, weapons distribution, and migrant smuggling – all are being transformed by this new criminal DNA. These networks operate completely unhindered by borders, spanning over 150 countries and involving more than 100 nationalities.
As these threats become more sophisticated and digital, your own awareness and digital literacy become essential first lines of defense. How prepared are you to recognize and protect yourself from these evolving threats? Join our exploration of this critical security landscape and discover what it means for our collective future.

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Chapters

1. Introducing the Changing DNA of Crime (00:00:00)

2. Society Destabilized: Crime's First Pillar (00:05:21)

3. Digital Transformation: Crime's New Ecosystem (00:08:46)

4. AI Acceleration: Technology Fueling Crime (00:12:39)

5. Cross-Cutting Criminal Tactics (00:16:43)

6. Key Criminal Landscapes (00:20:13)