Europol: Mafia does not use the net much

According to Europols Organised Crime Situation Report of 2000 organised crime is not involved in high-tech crime

High technology crime does not appear to be the work of organised crime groups. That's the conclusion of Europol in the Organised Crime Situation Report of 2000.

According to the European police organisation, organised crime groups in the European Union are not engaged in high technology crime like attacks on computer networks. Europol thinks that is because the potential for causing harm or mischief is easier to see than their potential use for profit. 'There is little or no involvement of organised crime in such types of computer crime as the spreading of viruses, denial of service attacks, or hacking,' the report states.

Only if these forms of computer crime can be used for extortion purposes or, if data can be extracted, such as payments card details, which can be used fraudulently, computer crime can be attractive for organised crime.

Europol further states that child pornography on the Internet is still dominated by individuals or networks, which cannot be defined as organised crime groups. But according to Europol some organised crime groups are attracted by the field because of the profits, which can be made through the distribution of child pornographic material.

However, organised crime is using IT tools to an increasing extent to commit their crimes and as a means to cover up their actions or criminal proceeds, Europol states. Therefore organised crime groups are hiring computer experts.

In the chapters on the situation in the Member States there is also some mentioning of the use of IT tools or modern communication methods by organised crime. 'Organised crime has proven to be very skillful in taking advantage of the speed and anonymity of modern forms of communication,' Austria for instance concludes. 'This fast-advancing area requires continued alertness both on the part of the legislator and law enforcement and justice authorities.'

Belgium reports the use of a code language by criminal groups, and the use of 'special transmission methods' as a part of technical counter-measures.

The Netherlands reports the 'digital perpetration' of criminal activities by a criminal group. The activity in that case was the distribution for payment of child pornographic material through the Internet. 'The computer was therefore a crucial instrument in the perpetrating of these crimes,' the Dutch conclude.

According to the chapter on the United Kingdom, the most obvious threat from new technology comes from criminal misuse of the Internet. But although it 'has to be assumed that organised criminals are exploring the criminal potential of the Internet, if only as a means of communication', the UK concludes: 'the evidence for this is limited.'