Serious and organised crime is a key threat to the security of the EU. Criminal groups and individual criminals continue to generate multi-billion euro profits from their activities in the EU each year. Some parts of the serious and organised crime landscape in the EU have changed drastically in recent years - in large part due to advancements in technology that have had a profound impact on the wider society and economy.
Technology is a key component of most, if not all, criminal activities carried out by organised crime groups in the EU and has afforded organised crime with an unprecedented degree of flexibility. This flexibility is particularly apparent in the ease with which criminals adapt to changes in society.
The internet, the multitude of online platforms and communication channels it hosts have had a huge impact on society, strengthening and transforming the economy, driving innovation and shaping social interaction. However, it is also a key enabler of criminal activity and plays a role in all types of criminality.
The impact of technology on crime, however, extends beyond the internet and involves all kinds of technical innovation such as advances in drone technology, automated logistics, and advanced printing technologies.
The vital role of technology for organised crime is reflected in the data collected and analysed for the SOCTA 2017. For the SOCTA 2017, Europol has undertaken the largest-ever data collection on serious and organised crime in the EU.
Europol relied on more than 2,300 questionnaires contributed by Member States, Europol’s operational and strategic partners outside the EU and our institutional partners as well as operational intelligence held in Europol’s databases to produce the most detailed assessment of the nature and scale of criminal threats facing the EU and its Member States yet.
Based on an in-depth analysis of this data and a methodology endorsed by the Member States, Europol identifies the key threats from serious and organised crime facing the EU today and over the coming years.
Based on the outcome of a comprehensive analysis of the indicators and factors detailed in the SOCTA Methodology, Europol recommends key priorities to tackle the most threatening forms of serious and organised crime. In addition to five specific criminal activities carried out by organised crime in the EU, Europol is also recommending to focus on three cross-cutting threats that enable or enhance all types of serious and organised crime.
