Criminals are using AI smarter and smarter; how do we stay one step ahead?
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Criminal networks are using AI and other digital technologies with increasing effectiveness. According to Prof. Ana Isabel Barros, the key therefore lies not in more AI, but in how we use it. This is the only way we can tackle the growing complexity of organized crime and subversion.
In her inaugural lecture on July 8, she highlighted the opportunities AI offers, but also where the technology falls short.
Foto: Maurice van den Bosch
Understanding AI and crime
The developments Barros describes are more relevant than ever. Due to increasing digitization and globalization, criminals now operate effortlessly in both the physical and digital realms. They are able to adapt quickly to measures designed to stop them and often adopt new technologies faster and with fewer restrictions than the organizations fighting them. Moreover, organized crime, cybercrime, and geopolitical conflicts are becoming increasingly intertwined.
Crime Is Changing Fundamentally
“The nature of crime is fundamentally changing,” says Barros. “The front lines are no longer confined to the streets or within national borders, but extend far beyond national boundaries and deep into the digital realm. Criminal activities are increasingly taking place at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds, where developments in one dimension have direct consequences for the other, and vice versa. This interconnection not only increases criminals’ effectiveness but also amplifies the nature and impact of disruptive crime.”
Hypercrime Calls for a New Approach
According to Barros, this development calls for breaking down traditional barriers between law enforcement, local government, and national defense, as well as between domains such as cyber and physical, or military and civilian. Given criminals’ rapid ability to adapt, it is essential to invest in predictive capabilities, early detection, and the resilience of citizens and organizations.
Barros summarizes these developments under the term “hypercrime”: a form of crime in which physical and digital threats, organized crime, and geopolitical developments are becoming increasingly intertwined.
The Role of AI
Against this backdrop, Barros examines how AI is, on the one hand, being exploited by criminals and, on the other hand, can help to identify patterns, vulnerabilities, and connections earlier. She emphasizes that technology is not a magic bullet: careful and responsible use, with an eye toward ethical and legal frameworks, is essential.
This leads to a pressing question that was central to the speech: Are we still leading the way, or are we in danger of falling behind? According to Barros, the answer lies not only in better technology: “The race isn’t won with better AI alone,” she said. “The real challenge is to combine technology with human expertise, critical thinking, and collaboration within and across organizations. Only then can we capitalize on the opportunities offered by AI without losing sight of the risks.”
Data Science and AI for a Resilient Society
Barros’ research is taking further shape within the JADS Center for Data Science and AI against Organized and Subversive Crime. Her chair, funded since 2020 by the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Province of North Brabant, the Municipality of Tilburg, RIEC Oost Brabant, and RIEC Zeeland West Brabant, is based at the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences for the benefit of the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS).
Within the Center, researchers focus, among other things, on identifying patterns and networks within organized crime, the role of technology in this context, and the development of effective interventions and policy strategies.
About Ana Isabel Barros
Ana Isabel Barros is a researcher and expert in the fields of intelligence, data science, and AI. She is a distinguished professor at JADS, a lecturer at the Police Academy, and has been a principal scientist at TNO since 1997.
For the press
For additional information: communications@jads.nl