No country is an island: embracing international law enforcement cooperation to reduce the impact of cybercrime

ABSTRACTWith cybercrime as an inherently borderless form of crime, the article explores the roles different actors of international law enforcement cooperation have in countering cybercrime. The tools and platforms for global efforts to counter cybercrime offered by international law enforcement organisations include: information and intelligence exchange; capacity-development; and platforms for public-private collaboration. Among the challenges is the gap between capabilities and capacities to counter cybercrime between countries. Such gaps, together with an at times significant fragmentation in everything from information exchange systems to coordination of support is hampering global efforts. A lack of understanding and exchange between affected sectors and actors warrants closer collaboration. Finally, engaging and building trust with private entities should be a priority when countries formulate their national strategies. Embracing a broad international collaboration mindset by policymakers in national cybercrime approaches will lead to more inclusive and effective cyber policies, helping to protect citizens and reduce the harm and impact of cybercrime on individuals and businesses.KEYWORDS: Cybercrimelaw enforcementcapacity-buildinginternational cooperation Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 For this article, a broad notion of cybercrime is used, encompassing both the more cyber-dependent crimes against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and information systems as well as other cyber-enabled crimes where information and communication technology allows for a significant increase in the speed, scale and reach of the crimes being committed. Many facets of international cooperation are also relevant for investigations of other crimes that involve digital elements or electronic evidence.2 For more information on the UN cyber processes, see also Hakmeh and Vignard (Citation2021) and Painter (Citation2021).3 All but three of the UN’s member states are also members of Interpol (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Palau and Tuvalu). Aruba, Curaçao, Palestine, Sint Maarten and the Vatican City State are also members of Interpol.4 Aseanapol covers the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while Afripol works to further police cooperation between its 54 African member nations. Ameripol is the police community of the Americas and consists of 28 police forces from the region. In the Middle East and North Africa region there is both the GCCPOL that includes the countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC) that aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of internal security and prevention of crime.5 See the Cybil Portal, www.cybilportal.org.Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohn BillowJohn Billow has extensive experience with global security and cyber issues. He is currently the head of the Swedish government Inspectorate for Cybersecurity Certification. Preceding this he held a position working with strategy and policy at Interpol’s Cybercrime Directorate based in Singapore. He previously served as a Swedish civil servant in a variety of roles focusing on external and internal security, transnational crime, terrorism, peace and security, cyber and police cooperation at the Ministry of Justice in Sweden and in diplomatic postings as justice counsellor (UN and EU) in New York and in Brussels. He holds a Master of Laws from Uppsala University.