FLASH
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When they cracked EncroChat, the secret communication system thousands of criminals around the world used to chat with each other. France released the recovered conversations to the security services of the affected countries so that each could use them in their own investigations.
Wars are also a testing ground for criminals, who emerge from them far more dangerous and armed. "Some cybercriminals operating in Russia and Ukraine have moved from criminal acts to attacking each other.
They have increased their skills. And while they are focused on trying to cause as much damage as possible as part of their wider conflict, when they return to ordinary crimes, they will be more skilled and ruthless in what they do."
The man making the warning is Stephen Kavanagh, who currently holds the post of Executive Director for Police Services at Interpol, the second most senior official after the Secretary-General. In fact, he is running for the top post in the international police organization, which will hold a general assembly in November to select a new leader. Kavanagh agreed to speak to "El País" about the security challenges facing the world.
" We have already seen evidence of some of these weapons appearing to be sold in other regions. And this is something that will have an impact on Europe, not just for the next 5, but for the next 15 or even 20 years. So there will be criminals who will be better armed ", he predicts.
Before serving under the current head of Interpol, Jürgen Stock, who has been at the helm of the 100-year-old institution for nearly a decade, Kavanagh worked for 30 years at New Scotland Yard and for a further 5 years as the chief constable of Essex.
He has co-ordinated the fight against terrorism, been responsible for the security of the British royal family, and led the National Digital Intelligence strategy to tackle criminals whose skills have been greatly enhanced by technology. Kavanagh is one of those who believe in Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool capable of transforming police efforts into something radically different.
" I think the primary role of law enforcement agencies is to prevent crime. We like to arrest bad people after they've done bad things or shipped drugs. But to prevent these crimes from happening, to stop the destruction of lives through weapons or human trafficking, is much more productive ," he says.
Interpol's basic task is to link information, to connect the dots, to provide the overall vision in the fight against organized crime, which is often lost during a purely national perspective. Kavanagh says this has been seen recently with major anti-drug operations on the west coast of Africa and in Ireland.
" When Interpol is required to be activated, and when it is able to support member countries, in analyzing communications data, financial data, transport data and so on, we are able to make connections like no other organization. in the world. But the amount of information is already taking on such a dimension that this network can only be deciphered through Artificial Intelligence machines ", Kavanagh emphasizes.
For this reason, he does not hesitate to defend the major blow that the French police authorities gave to crime when they deciphered EncroChat, the secret communication system that thousands of criminals around the world used to talk to each other. France released the recovered conversations to the security services of the affected countries so that each could use them in their own investigations.
Most of the messages were related to drug trafficking, and security forces across half the planet were stunned by the level and complexity of the crime, which was much deeper than they thought. Criminal organizations are now demanding that the international justice system disable this action, and stop a system of indiscriminate interception of communications without prior court authorization.
" So, many of these crimes are not reported to a police station, they remain invisible and unheard. Whether it's business fines, online child abuse, black markets, environmental crimes or water pollution in Africa through illegal mining processes, none of it is reported ," says Kavanagh.
" And I have no doubt that the colleagues who came up with that concept analyzed proportionality, saw the necessity, the scale of crimes, the violation of privacy, but on the other hand, crimes cannot go unpunished. And if we do not improve our methods of investigation ethically and proportionately with the technology sector, and with the advice of lawyers, then the law enforcement authorities will fall further and further behind the crime ", emphasizes the number 2 of Interpol.
The risk of tension in the Middle East
Kavanagh knows firsthand the threat of Islamic terrorism, from which London also suffers. And he knows how these "lone wolves" are activated, how they get their ideas through forums and websites in his darkest corners. Nothing fuels these threats more than a global tension that polarizes society.
"With the multitude of tragic circumstances that we are seeing across the Sahel, in Yemen, Palestine, etc., there will always be those who use those dire circumstances to use people's emotions and incite them to do bloody and horrible. So we shouldn't be complacent ," he warns.
Kavanagh's qualifications for the position to which he aspires are unquestionable. But while it is praised for its neutrality, Interpol is also a political playground. The Brazilian candidate, Valdecy Urquiza, is entering the race with the best chance of winning, as the institution has been under the control of the United States and Europe for decades.
China has expressed tacit support for the Brazilian candidate. But the British government, which has seen a weakening of its police cooperation with Europol after a rather problematic Brexit, wants to strengthen its importance in the international arena./ Adapted "Pamphlet" from "El Pais"
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