EU Border Assistance Mission responds to Dark Web challenges

The Dark Web has become a notorious criminal hub that according to its online nature operates regardless the borders. The anonymity of illicit online activity not only encourages illegal actions, but also disguises them from law enforcement agencies. To help our partner services tackle this challenge, on 25 May, EUBAM in cooperation with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has organized an online workshop on Dark Web investigation with the participation of 30 high-level representatives of law-enforcement agencies of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

During a live demonstration, experts from Germany, Spain and Thailand walked the participants through the technical details of Dark Web operations. The UNODC specialists shared best international practices for investigating crime on the Dark Web, using real life scenarios from their own countries. At the same time, special attention was paid to cryptocurrencies and the way payment methods work on the Dark Web. The workshop was also focused on national legislation and how to conduct Dark Web investigations within its boundaries.

“We should take into account the constantly changing character of the Dark Web phenomena and its cross-jurisdictional nature. If we neglect it, perpetrators might be encouraged by the lack of enforcement to conduct more and more illicit activities using the Dark Web. Therefore, it is crucial that law enforcers constantly enhance their knowledge on this topic, share experience and collaborate across agencies,” stated Slawomir Pichor, Head of the European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine.