Preparing to Combat Cybercriminals: Dobrindt's Approach - Intends to Combat Cybercrime: Dobrindt's Plan
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The German government is gearing up to clamp down on digital hoodlums, as announced by Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). "We're gonna ramp up—legally, technically, and organizationally," he declared at the launch of the Federal Crime Report Cybercrime 2024.
This beefed-up approach includes beefing up powers for security agencies and beefing up security standards across the state and administration. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) is looking to develop and enhance their existing tools using artificial intelligence (AI), as cybercriminals employ AI to make phishing attacks appear more convincing, tricking victims into giving away their access details[1][5].
Foreign cybercriminals and so-called hacktivists have Germany firmly in their crosshairs, revealed BKA President Holger Münch. The report shows an increase in cybercrimes committed by offshore scoundrels. Although the number of cases with German-based suspects dropped slightly, from around 134,000 cases to about 131,000 cases, crimes committed from abroad surged from around 190,000 cases to almost 202,000 cases. Münch warns that the dark field in this realm is vast[1][4].
He urges victims to make a report in the face of this ominous landscape. Messenger services, apparently, have become the new distribution channel for "Cybercrime-as-a-Service" offers. This refers to the business model that offers criminal services or tools on the web[1][2]. Up until now, these illicit service packages have mainly been offered in the darknet or relevant forums.
"The digital realm is swiftly evolving into the main battleground for organized crime, with an unpredictable dark underbelly," explained Alexander Poitz, deputy federal chairman of the Police Union (GdP)[1][3]. Currently, security authorities are struggling to keep up with this rapid technological evolution. Infrastructure, personnel, and technical shortcomings are hampering an effective crackdown on cybercrime. Failure to act swiftly and decisively by politics, justice, and police could pave the way for losing ground and control.
BKA President Münch, however, is more optimistic. "With our internationally coordinated measures, we demonstrated in the last year that we won't slack off and are countering this heightened threat situation with robust law enforcement measures," he said[1][3].
[1]: Based on the available data, the German government is tightening its anti-crime measures to protect institutions and citizens from cyberattacks. The exact nature of these measures, including AI-related initiatives, is not fully specified in the provided sources.
[2]: Cybercrime-as-a-Service refers to a business model that offers criminal services or tools over the internet. These service packages have been mostly offered in the darknet or relevant forums up till now.
[3]: The Police Union (GdP) highlights that the German authorities are having difficulties keeping up with the rapid evolution of the digital realm.
[4]: According to the report, foreign cybercriminals are increasingly committing cybercrimes against Germany.
[5]: In 2020, cybercrime caused 178.6 billion euros in damages.
- The increased focus on cybersecurity in EC countries, such as Germany, is a response to the growing threat of cybercrime in the digital realm.
- The employment policy for the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) includes the development and enhancement of AI tools to combat phishing attacks and cybercriminals who use AI to deceive victims.
- The rise of "Cybercrime-as-a-Service" offers on messenger services highlights the need for politics, justice, and police to adapt their employment policies to keep up with the rapid technological evolution in the crime-and-justice sector.
