Europol’s tech experts team up with practitioners and academia to spearhead research against the potential exploitation of biometric identification systems. A new Europol report looks at the ubiquitous biometric recognition technology and its potential for exploitation by criminals. Biometric recognition technology is a trusted and reliable way to verify identities and is now widely used […]
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A new way to combat claims and fake news
Misinformation spreads on the internet faster than you can say… misinformation. Today’s digital landscape is littered with misleading stories and half-truths. Lies travel much faster than facts. “Misinformation is a threat to society and the functioning of democracies worldwide,” warn the authors of the research published in the journal Nature Communications. “It has been shown […]
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Global crackdown on Kidflix, a major child sexual exploitation platform with almost two million users
Kidflix, one of the largest paedophile platforms in the world, has been shut down in an international operation against child sexual exploitation. The investigation was supported by Europol and led by the State Criminal Police of Bavaria (Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt) and the Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime (ZCB). Over 35 countries worldwide participated […]
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6 tips to spot and stop information manipulation
Information manipulation can prevent people from making informed decisions by misleading them. New technologies allow false or distorted content to spread faster and on a larger scale than ever before. To stop its harm, it is needed to learn how to recognise it. Factchecking can help set the record straight. Empowering citizens, independent fact-checkers and civil society is therefore essential. What […]
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Commission unveils “ProtectEU”, the new European Internal Security Strategy
The European Commission presented on 1 April ProtectEU: A European Internal Security Strategy to support Member States and strengthen the EU’s capacity to ensure the security of its citizens. The Strategy sets out an ambitious vision and roadmap for the coming years, with a stronger set of legal instruments, increased information exchange and closer cooperation. […]
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Latest study on Europe’s ecstasy market reveals new trends in production and trafficking
Criminal groups in Europe are adapting and expanding MDMA production, refining trafficking methods and extending their reach to new countries and regions. These are among the issues explored in a new analysis — EU Drug Market: MDMA — released last March 27th by Europol and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). The joint analysis from […]
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12 members of an Irish high-risk criminal network arrested
This week, Irish and Spanish law enforcement authorities took decisive action against one of Ireland’s high-risk criminal networks. In a coordinated series of raids in both countries, An Garda Síochána and Guardia Civil officers arrested 12 suspects (6 in Ireland and 6 in Spain). The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly […]
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What is it known about the Preparedness Union Strategy?
Last March 26th, the Commission and High Representative launch the Preparedness Union Strategy to support Member States and enhance Europe’s capability to prevent and respond to emerging threats. It comes as the European Union is facing increasingly complex crises and challenges that cannot be ignored. From growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, hybrid and cybersecurity threats, […]
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Network smuggling migrants between Spain and France busted in Marseille
Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants from Spain to France. The investigation was initiated in November 2022 and targeted individuals, based in Marseille, suspected of smuggling migrants between Spain and France. Europol’s analysis of the operational data made […]
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