Cyber crime data volume ‘overwhelming’

A report by two EU bodies has said that many law-enforcement agencies do not have the resources to analyse the massive volumes of data involved in attempts to tackle cyber-crime. 

The report also finds that legal uncertainties are continuing to affect the availability of data for investigations. 

The joint report was published today (31 January) by Eurojust, the EU agency for criminal-justice co-operation, and Europol, the union’s law-enforcement body.

One of the main challenges it identifies is an “overwhelming” volume of data, which triggers a need for advanced analytic techniques and significant resources that the report says are “currently beyond the reach of many agencies”. 

Legal uncertainties 

The report also notes the continuing impact of legal uncertainties after the invalidation of the Data Retention Directive by the EU’s Court of Justice in 2014.

The agencies say that this continues to affect the availability of data for investigations. 

“Additionally, technologies that obscure user identities and locations or block the lawful access to data are creating substantial barriers to tracing illicit activities,” the report states. 

The report also highlights legal and logistical barriers to international co-operation that complicate the fight against cyber-crime. 

Legislation 

“Furthermore, collaboration between public and private partners, crucial for resolving cyber-crimes, often run into obstacles such as data-sharing restrictions and the sensitivity of investigations,” it adds. 

The agencies also look at the impact of new EU legislation, such as the e-evidence package, the Digital Services Act, and the EU AI Act. 

They conclude that, while the new measures have the potential to strengthen the fight against cyber-crime, their effectiveness will largely depend on how they are implemented and integrated into existing operational strategies.