According to a new report from The Alan Turing Institute, UK law enforcement lacks the tools to effectively tackle AI-enabled crime, and must adopt a more proactive, AI-driven approach.

The report, published today by the Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS), calls for the creation of a dedicated AI Crime Taskforce within the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The Centre highlighted how, while the use of AI by criminals remains at an early stage, there’s widespread evidence emerging of substantial acceleration in AI-enabled crime, not least when it comes to the likes of phishing and sexual abuse material.

The research argues that the acceleration in AI-enabled crime is being driven by AI’s ability to automate, augment, and rapidly scale the volume of criminal activity.

Easy exploitation of AI systems and models by criminal groups means these technologies are being effective “partners” to groups in achieving their objectives.

In response, the new report makes several recommendations for actions that government and law enforcement can take to counter AI-enabled crime.

The authors argue for a new AI Crime Taskforce to be established with the NCA; closer cooperation with European and international law enforcement partners; and law enforcement intelligence assessments to inform AI evaluation and testing so AI models’ compliance with criminal requests can be minimised.

“As AI tools continue to advance, criminals and fraudsters will exploit them, challenging law enforcement and making it even more difficult for potential victims to distinguish between what’s real and what’s fake,” said Ardi Janjeva, a senior research associate at The Alan Turing Institute, and an author on the report.

“It’s crucial that agencies fighting crime develop effective ways to mitigate this including combatting AI with AI.”

Recommended reading

• AI in Cybersecurity: A Risk or an Opportunity?
• UK Public Wants More Regulation to Feel Okay About AI
• UK Gov Launches £5M Challenge Fund to Strengthen AI Security

Joe Burton, professor of international security at Lancaster University, and also author of the report, added: “AI-enabled crime is already causing serious personal and social harm and big financial losses.

“We need to get serious about our response and give law enforcement the necessary tools to actively disrupt criminal groups. 

“If we don’t, we’re set to see the rapid expansion of criminal use of AI technologies.”