Europol issued a stark warning on Tuesday, revealing that artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly accelerating organised crime, from generating child sexual abuse images to facilitating cryptocurrency-based money laundering.
The European police agency cautioned that the situation could deteriorate further with the advancement of technologies like quantum computing.
Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, described the findings as a “wake-up call” for law enforcement while addressing senior officers across Europe. “The future of European security is in our hands,” she stressed. “This is a fight for the rule of law, for our communities, for our businesses, and for the future of our children. We will not let organised crime dictate the rules of the game.”
In its detailed 80-page “threat assessment” report, Europol highlighted how criminals have exploited AI as a “catalyst” to accelerate illicit operations. “Rapid technological advancements—especially in artificial intelligence—are reshaping how crime is organised, executed, and concealed,” the report stated. “These developments are making organised crime more dangerous, posing an unprecedented challenge to security across the EU and its member states.”
The report detailed how AI is being used across the full spectrum of organised crime, including drug and human trafficking, cybercrime, and identity theft. Generative AI, in particular, is enabling criminal networks to operate across multiple languages and create explicit child abuse images. “Explicit pictures of adults can be manipulated to make individuals appear younger, or AI applications can ‘nudify’ non-explicit images,” Europol warned.
“The very qualities that make AI revolutionary—accessibility, versatility, and sophistication—have also made it an attractive tool for criminals,” the agency concluded.
