As cybercrime continues to pose a significant threat to global security and economies, the European Judicial Cybercrime Network (EJCN) held its 18th Plenary Meeting from 28-29 April. The two-day event, hosted at Eurojust’s headquarters in The Hague, brought together 60 participants from 32 countries.
Technological advancements create new opportunities for criminals to exploit the internet's speed, convenience, and anonymity. The resulting cyber threats know no borders, causing harm and posing real threats to victims worldwide. National authorities are taking measures to combat this growing threat, but often face challenges in keeping pace with the rapidly changing technical environment.
Prosecutors and judges across the EU are grappling with new legal problems and grey areas, such as cooperating with service providers that hold crucial electronic evidence, seizing cryptocurrencies under the control of crypto assets service providers or addressing the complex phenomena of cyber-enabled terrorism. The EJCN's 18th Plenary Meeting addressed these challenges head-on, featuring discussions on key topics such as artificial intelligence, crypto assets, the E-evidence Package and terrorist networks operating online. The meeting included presentations on case studies, including the criminal use of malicious Large Language Models (LLMs) and the abuse of stablecoins, highlighting the evolving nature of cyber threats.
A restricted session on the second day allowed participants to share updates on national legislations, judgments, and cases. Breakout sessions covered topics such as artificial intelligence, crypto assets, e-evidence and training for the judiciary on cyber-related topics, providing a platform for participants to share experiences and anticipate future challenges. The meeting was an important gathering of experts and stakeholders, offering valuable insights and discussions on the key challenges facing the cybercrime industry, and demonstrating the EJCN's commitment to supporting its members in their efforts to combat cybercrime.
Established in 2016, the EJCN plays a vital role in fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing among practitioners specialising in countering cybercrime, with the goal of increasing the efficiency of investigations and prosecutions. With the support of key partner Eurojust, the EJCN works to enhance cooperation between national authorities, addressing the borderless nature of cybercrime and the challenges it poses.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union