LOC16:24
13:24 GMT
BRUSSELS, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- The European Union will launch on Friday, January
11, the new European Cybercrime Centre to help protect European citizens and
businesses from cyber-crime.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom will participate in the
official opening of the Centre established at the European Police Office,
Europol, in the Hague, the Netherlands, the European Commission announced
Wednesday.
"The Cybercrime Centre will give a strong boost to the EU's capacity to
fight cybercrime and defend an internet that is free, open and secure,"
commented Malmstrom in a statement.
Investigations into online fraud, child abuse online and other cybercrimes
regularly involve hundreds of victims at a time, and suspects in many
different parts of the world.
The opening of the European Cybercrime Centre marks a significant shift in
how the EU has been addressing cybercrime so far, noted the statement.
The Centre will focus on illegal online activities carried out by organised
crime groups, especially attacks targeting e-banking and other online
financial activities, online child sexual exploitation and those crimes that
affect the critical infrastructure and information systems in the EU.
Around one million people worldwide fall victim to some form of cybercrime
every day. Estimates indicate that victims lose around EUR 290 billion each
year worldwide as a result of cybercriminal activities, the statement added.
(end)
nk.hb
KUNA 091624 Jan 13NNNN