Published on: 27 Oct 2023
A hybrid international conference attended by 1 300 participants has concluded that tackling the criminal use of cryptocurrencies is a race against time. Law enforcement agencies that collaborate in joint task teams and proactively collaborate with the private sector are getting ahead of the criminals. In contrast, countries that do not take the risks seriously are in danger of becoming a haven for crypto-enabled scams, money laundering and terrorist financing.
Co-organised by Europol and the Basel Institute on Governance, the 7th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies was hosted at Europol’s headquarters.
The two-day event (26-27 October), organised in a hybrid format, was attended by representatives from law enforcement, the public and private sectors, policy institutions and academia from more than 100 countries. The aim was to explore trends and strategies to tackle crimes involving cryptocurrencies.
The discussions focused on the key issues associated to combating the criminal misuse of these virtual assets, including:
- Trends and threats in relation to the criminal use of cryptocurrencies, including evolving scam typologies.
- Growing adoption of cryptocurrencies by criminals, particularly in underground banking.
- Evolving legal frameworks around virtual assets in the European Union.
- Current institutional capacity to tackle money laundering, terrorist financing and other crimes involving cryptocurrencies.
- Public-private cooperation in cryptocurrency investigations and confiscation proceedings.
- Best practices in investigative and regulatory responses.
On the second day of the conference – which was restricted to law enforcement only – national investigators and Europol shared their experiences in cryptocurrency investigations. Among the topics of discussion were methodologies for exploring criminal operations in dark markets and scams involving cryptocurrencies.
The conference participants converged around a set of recommendations to strengthen skillsets, improve knowledge, boost expertise and encourage best practices for crypto asset investigations and recovery. Peer learning forums such as this conference are key to achieving all of these challenges. These recommendations will be made available to the public in the weeks to come.
Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol’s Deputy Executive Director Operations, said:
Criminals aren’t giving up on misusing cryptocurrencies anytime soon. Europol’s Strategy ‘Delivering Security in Partnership’, adopted earlier this year, highlights the pivotal role that cryptocurrencies play in the financial schemes of criminals. Europol is convinced of the value of partnering with the Basel Institute on Governance to bring together law enforcement and private sector representatives from across the world to share their insights and to collaborate on how we respond to emerging technologies.
Gretta Fenner, Managing Director of the Basel Institute on Governance, said:
Our Basel AML Index shows that countries struggle to address money laundering and terrorist financing risks related to virtual assets. Events like this are crucial to build capacity in law enforcement and maximise the opportunities of public-private and cross-border collaboration. We are proud to partner with Europol to organise the conference for the seventh year.
The annual conference is organised by the Working Group on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies, established in 2016 and led by the Basel Institute on Governance and Europol.
Unleashing tech in the fight against intellectual property crime
Europol Intellectual Property Crime Conference hosts 250 experts fighting counterfeit goods that pose threat to health, safety, and the environment
Published on: 27 Oct 2023
The conference, themed “Tackling counterfeit goods posing a threat to health, safety, and the environment,” delved deep into the critical issues surrounding intellectual property (IP) crime, with a particular focus on the role of advanced technology. Within a busy agenda of conference activities, a diverse group of experts and stakeholders from around the world came together for the discussion.
Key topics at the conference included:
- the role of women in fighting intellectual property crime;
- counterfeit goods posing a threat to health and safety;
- counterfeit goods posing a threat to the environment;
- the impact of advanced technology on intellectual property crime.
Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, said:
This conference and the recent renewal of the Service Level Agreement between Europol and EUIPO demonstrate our relentless commitment to combatting intellectual property crime. The financial and economic …
… This event emphasises the importance of international cooperation and the role of women in the fight against intellectual property crime, ensuring that gender equality remains a priority at every level.
João Negrão, Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) said:
Ensuring the rigorous enforcement of intellectual property law is a priority for our institution. Criminal infringement of intellectual property is not just an attack on individual innovation; it is an attack …
… but a moral imperative. Our commitment to this issue is unwavering, as we aim to protect creativity, drive economic growth, and secure the integrity of markets for both consumers and producers alike.
Pedro Portugal Gaspar, Inspector General of the Portuguese Economic and Food Safety Authority, said:
Ensuring economic safety in the Portuguese market is one of the main drives of ASAE’s action. To ensure the fulfilment of our mission, cooperation among law enforcement authorities, both national and …
… Events such as this Conference, in which ASAE has the pleasure to cohost, represent a decisive opportunity to bring us all closer in finding solutions and new tools to combat intellectual property crime.
José Barros Correia, National Director of the Portuguese Polícia de Segurança Pública, said:
Ensuring the rigorous enforcement of intellectual property laws is a priority for our institution. Criminal infringement of intellectual property is not just an attack on individual innovation; it is an attack …
… but a moral imperative. Our commitment to this issue is unwavering, as we aim to protect creativity, drive economic growth, and secure the integrity of markets for both consumers and producers alike.
Platform for sharing expertise in combatting IP crime
Since its inception in 2017, the Europol Intellectual Property Crime Conference has proven to be an invaluable platform for law enforcement authorities and the private sector. The conference provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen cooperation, share experiences, and identify new trends in intellectual property crimes.
The conference embodies the spirit of the amended Europol Strategy, emphasising engagement with relevant private parties and recognising the crucial role played by the industry community in addressing intellectual property and counterfeiting issues.
The fight against intellectual property crime is a top priority for Europol and a key focus in the EU’s efforts to combat serious and organised crime. Recent data and analysis indicate a significant increase in intellectual property crimes, underlining the need for the close collaboration between law enforcement, EU institutions, third countries, and private sector entities.
Close and continuous cooperation at EU level
The recent renewal of the Service Level Agreement between Europol and EUIPO for the period of 2024-2027 demonstrates the close and continuous cooperation between the two organisations in the fight against intellectual property crime. Last year, the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC), home to the Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3), provided support to over 400 financial investigations.
In September 2023, Europol unveiled its assessment of the threats originating from financial and economic crimes at EU level. A section of this report is dedicated to intellectual property crime, drawing from a blend of operational insights and strategic intelligence contributed by law enforcement agencies to Europol.
For more information about the 2023 Europol Intellectual Property Crime Conference, visit the event page.
