Europol publishes 2026 Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA)
Europol’s 2026 Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA), highlights sophisticated tactics and emerging challenges in the digital landscape.
Titled “How encryption, proxies, and AI are expanding cybercrime,” the report underscores the accelerating pace and sophistication of cyber threats, emphasising the need for enhanced law enforcement capabilities and international cooperation.
The Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Edvardas Šileris, said: “The IOCTA 2026 provides an up-to-date roadmap for law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to understand and respond to the evolving threats posed by cybercrime. As criminals continue to exploit technological advancements, it is crucial that we enhance our capabilities and collaborate more effectively to protect our citizens and critical infrastructure.”
The report offers a comprehensive overview of the key developments in cybercrime, online fraud, cyber-attacks, and online child sexual exploitation, along with actionable insights for law enforcement agencies and stakeholders. Key topics covered are:
- Cybercrime enablers: a fragmented dark web and cryptocurrencies
- Artificial intelligence as an accelerator of online fraud
- Cyber-attacks increasingly focus on threat of data release
- Increased trade and monetisation online child sexual exploitation
For more information see the full report
EAST focusses on tackling cybercrime through the EAST Expert Group on Payment and Transaction Fraud (EPTF).
Information on how to protect yourself can be found on the Cardholders page on this website.
