AI usage by criminal networks now extends to fraud, data theft, and money laundering, as per the latest Europol report. The agency disclosed that criminals are leveraging this technology to a significant extent, claiming it has “completely transformed the landscape of organized crime.”
The authors highlighted in a press statement, “The features that underpin AI’s innovation – accessibility, adaptability, and complexity, serve as potent tools for criminal organizations. These advancements automate and expand criminal activities, enhancing scalability and evasiveness.”
Ramped-up Capabilities for Traditional Crimes
While many instances enumerated in Europol’s 2025 European Union Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment have been previously disclosed–including deepfake use for impersonating reputable executives, automated ransomware, and AI-driven malware–the report also shed light on lesser-known applications.
Per reports, AI is being exploited by criminals to streamline money laundering operations and obscure financial transactions, making tracking illicit fund movements more arduous. Europol also revealed that generative AI is being harnessed to produce child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), potentially contributing to a disconcerting surge in its volume and corresponding offenses in recent times.
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“It aids in altering existing CSAM and generating fresh content,” stated the authors. “Explicit images of adults can be digitally manipulated to appear younger, or ‘nudifying’ apps can be employed on non-explicit images.”
In February, Europol unveiled the arrest of 25 individuals engaged in managing an online platform that utilized AI for generating and disseminating child sexual abuse content globally. This incident marked a pioneering occurrence and was particularly tricky due to the lack of national legislation addressing such AI-facilitated crimes, the agency noted.
The report mused about a future where “completely autonomous AI,” necessitating no human intervention, could usher a phase of entirely AI-controlled criminal syndicates, marking a new era in organized crime.
Almost Every Organized Crime Leaves an Online Trace
Per Europol, little organized criminal activity operates without any digital presence, whether with or without AI–even for crimes taking place in the physical realm. For instance, drug traffickers utilize digital channels for communication or to gather intel related to concealing their shipments.
Criminal syndicates are serving as intermediaries for hybrid threat actors, merging diverse strategies in synchronized assaults. These actors converge in the digital sphere, where they can swap avant-garde AI and digital utilities used for assaults.
“Moreover, criminal networks function unrestricted by boundaries or incarceration,” penned the authors, “incorporating profitable strategies into their modus operandi.”
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The corruption and indoctrination of youths persist as a primary ploy for organized crime, enabling expansion and shielding top brass members from direct legal action. Europol noted that this has been facilitated by “encrypted communication tools and online platforms that ease borderless recruitment, blackmail, and coordination.” These platforms could encompass social media or gaming forums.
Criminals are allocating funds into parallel financial systems facilitated by emerging technologies like blockchain to cleanse their unlawful gains. Beyond just providing confidentiality, these systems are engineered to increase criminal riches through digital asset trading.
“The essence of organized crime is undergoing a transformation,” remarked Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, in a press communication. “Criminal syndicates have evolved into worldwide, technology-propelled criminal enterprises, exploiting digital mediums, illegal financial flows, and geopolitical instability to broaden their sway. They are now more malleable and menacing than ever before.”
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