Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, has warned that artificial intelligence is fueling organized crime that is undermining societies across the E.U. and being used in state-sponsored destabilization campaigns. The E.U. Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment 2025 report highlights how cybercrime, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and cyber attacks, is evolving into a digital arms race facilitated by AI. Criminals are using AI to create highly realistic synthetic media, making it difficult to identify offenders and enabling new forms of fraud and identity theft.
The report also points out that state-sponsored actors are using criminals as contractors, hiding their true disruptive motives behind cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure. The recent example of a cyberattack on a hospital in Poland, driven by AI, illustrates the efficiency and sophistication of criminal operations. As the European Commission prepares to launch a new internal security policy, there is a call to urgently address these threats. European Commissioner Magnus Brunner emphasized the need to embed security into all activities and to provide more funding to double Europol’s staff.
Overall, the report underscores the urgent need to address the increasing threat of AI-powered organized crime, as it amplifies the speed, reach, and sophistication of criminal operations, ultimately eroding the rule of law and undermining societal foundations across the E.U.
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