The 3rd INTERPOL New Technologies Forum: Charting Law Enforcement's Course in Web 4.0

Executive Summary

The 3rd INTERPOL New Technologies Forum served as a pivotal international platform for law enforcement agencies to proactively address the rapidly evolving landscape of digital crime, particularly anticipating the implications of Web 4.0. This event underscored INTERPOL's strategic commitment to foresight, aiming to prepare for future threats rather than merely reacting to current ones, thereby positioning the forum as a cornerstone for global digital security. Notably, the forum saw the significant participation of Guntagani Vimal Kumar, CTO of Cyber Privilege Private Limited, as the sole private entity representative from India, highlighting the crucial role of leading Indian cybersecurity expertise in global dialogues on Web 4.0 technologies.

The forum's central theme, "Law Enforcement in Web 4.0," highlighted the complex and synergistic challenges posed by Decentralized Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Discussions and specialized training sessions emphasized the urgent requirement for pragmatic applications of AI in policing, the development of advanced investigative tools for virtual assets, and the cultivation of collaborative strategies to combat sophisticated, AI-enabled criminal activities. The forward-looking inclusion of quantum technologies signaled a proactive approach to future encryption and data security challenges.

The forum successfully fostered enhanced cross-sector collaboration, facilitated the exchange of best practices, and provided actionable recommendations for law enforcement and decision-makers worldwide. Its meticulously structured program, incorporating both high-level discussions and hands-on training tracks, demonstrated a strong commitment to capacity building and operational coordination among international agencies. The event reinforced the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach involving law enforcement, government, academia, and the private sector to effectively counter the borderless and technologically advanced nature of modern digital crime, signaling a strategic shift towards integrated, proactive, and globally coordinated law enforcement responses in the digital domain.

1. Introduction: Navigating Law Enforcement in Web 4.0

The 3rd INTERPOL New Technologies Forum represents a critical continuation of INTERPOL's ongoing initiative to address the rapidly evolving digital landscape. This event built upon the discussions from the 2023 INTERPOL New Technologies Forum, which focused on digital identity, metaverses, blockchain services, and Decentralized Finance (DeFi). This progression highlights a growing awareness within INTERPOL regarding how non-state and non-industry-controlled services create both new opportunities and significant challenges for criminal activities and investigations.

This evolution in focus underscores a dynamic and anticipatory adaptation within INTERPOL's strategic planning. The shift from addressing immediate Web3 threats in 2023 to the convergence of AI and decentralized technologies in 2024 demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the accelerating pace of technological evolution and its criminal exploitation. This proactive stance is crucial for identifying synergistic risks and preparing for the future digital crime landscape.

Event Details

forum was formally titled the "3rd INTERPOL New Technologies Forum: Law Enforcement in Web 4.0". The explicit inclusion of "Web 4.0" in the title signifies a forward-looking perspective on the future of digital crime and policing, anticipating the next iteration of the internet. The event spanned two days, from October 1-2, 2024, allowing for an intensive program that balanced high-level discussions with practical training.

The forum was held at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore. Singapore's reputation as a global technology and financial hub provides a fitting and strategic backdrop for discussions on advanced digital crime and innovation. The event was jointly organized by INTERPOL and the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, Germany. This co-organization highlights a strong international partnership and a shared commitment to addressing complex digital crime challenges at both global and national levels. Further demonstrating this partnership, the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice sponsored the networking cocktail, facilitating crucial informal networking opportunities for participants.

The Forum's Primary Purpose and Strategic Objectives

The forum's core purpose was to foster discussion on advancements in Decentralized Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the law enforcement landscape. A key objective was to anticipate the implications of Web 4.0 for criminal activities and policing methodologies, moving beyond current threats to future challenges. The meeting was specifically "aimed at expert practitioners and managers working in the field of digital crime" and explicitly open to "law enforcement, government agencies, and invited digital crime companies and academic institutions". This targeted audience emphasized the practical, operational, and multi-stakeholder focus of the event, ensuring that insights were relevant to those on the front lines of digital crime investigation.

The forum's explicit mention of "Web 4.0" in its title and purpose signifies a highly proactive strategic posture. Web 4.0, often conceptualized as an "intelligent" or "symbiotic" web characterized by pervasive AI, decentralized systems, and advanced human-machine interaction, is largely theoretical or in nascent stages of development. Addressing its implications now indicates a commitment to long-term foresight, preparing for a future where criminal activities are deeply embedded in highly intelligent, autonomous, and decentralized digital environments. This represents a shift from reactive cybercrime response to anticipatory law enforcement strategy, acknowledging that the speed of technological evolution necessitates preparation well in advance of widespread criminal exploitation. This proactive approach implies an ongoing need for continuous horizon scanning, flexible policy frameworks, and early engagement with emerging technologies.

2. The Digital Frontier: Key Themes and Discussions

The forum's thematic core revolved around "Decentralized Technologies powered by AI," exploring their dual nature as tools for innovation and vectors for sophisticated criminal activities.

2.1. Decentralized Technologies and Blockchain

Discussions included crucial updates on the financial industry's adoption of blockchains, presented by Boon-Hiong Chan, Director, Securities Services, Deutsche Bank AG Singapore. This highlighted the increasing mainstream integration of blockchain technology, which in turn creates new regulatory, compliance, and investigative challenges for law enforcement as these technologies become more widely used.

The concurrent focus on legitimate financial industry adoption of blockchains and the investigation of their exploitation for money laundering highlights a fundamental challenge. The very characteristics of decentralized technologies—such as pseudonymity, global reach, and resistance to central control—that enable innovation and efficiency also make them attractive for sophisticated criminal activities. This necessitates the development of highly specialized investigative tools and expertise that can effectively differentiate legitimate use from illicit activities without impeding technological progress. This also calls for closer collaboration with the financial industry and technology developers to identify red flags, build in safeguards, and develop appropriate regulatory and investigative responses that are both effective and proportionate.

The forum extensively covered the exploitation of these technologies in money laundering and other criminal activities. Nicholas Smart, Director, Intelligence and Security, Crystal Intelligence, addressed the critical role of peer-to-peer services in international money laundering. This pointed to the increasing sophistication of illicit financial flows that leverage decentralized, harder-to-trace networks, posing significant challenges to traditional financial surveillance. Ian Lee, Founding Team Director, Merkle Science, presented on "New Threat Vectors - Crypto Address Poisoning and more" , illustrating the constant emergence of novel attack methods that exploit the nuances and vulnerabilities of blockchain technology, requiring continuous vigilance and adaptation from law enforcement.

Criminal case studies provided concrete, real-world examples. Roman Bieda, Head of Investigations, Token Recovery, and Daniel Williamson, Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), presented on "Cryptocurrency mixers: Chipmixer and Cryptsy theft case-study". These case studies offered practical insights into the complex challenges of tracing illicit funds through obfuscation services like mixers, which are designed to break the link between sender and receiver. Additionally, Jonas Stürmer, Public Prosecutor, Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, discussed "Tackling the infrastructure provider of a multibillion dollars scam industry" , underscoring the importance of moving beyond individual scam operations to disrupt the underlying technological and organizational structures that enable large-scale, often transnational, digital fraud.

2.2. Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models (LLMs)

A central panel discussion, moderated by Vincent Danjean, Head of the Cyberspace and New Technologies Lab, INTERPOL, focused on "Pragmatic use and implementation of AI in policing for Dark Web and Decentralized Technologies". Panelists included Jennifer Woodard, Co-Founder, Insikt AI; Dinil Mon Divakaran, Senior Principal Scientist, ASTAR Institute for Infocomm Research; and Pravin Mandloi, Superintendent of Police, Central Bureau of Investigation, India. This session highlighted the shift towards actionable AI solutions for complex digital investigations, emphasizing real-world utility.

The discussions revealed AI's inherent duality: it serves as both a powerful tool for law enforcement and a significant enabler for criminals. While AI can scale and sophisticate criminal operations, it also offers law enforcement potent capabilities for detection, analysis, and combating these crimes. This dynamic suggests an escalating technological competition between law enforcement agencies and criminal organizations. Effective counter-strategies require not only rapid adoption of AI tools for policing but also a continuous, deep understanding of how criminals leverage AI to anticipate and counter their evolving tactics. Ethical considerations surrounding AI's use in justice and surveillance also become paramount as these technologies become more pervasive.

Eray Arda Akartuna, Assistant Professor / Senior Crypto Threat Researcher, City University of Hong Kong / Elliptic, presented on "Best practices for preventing AI-enabled crimes in the crypto asset ecosystem", addressing the critical need for proactive measures and defensive strategies to counter the increasingly sophisticated use of AI by criminals in financial fraud and other illicit activities. Wendy O'Brien, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, UNODC, discussed "AI for Equal Access to Justice", broadening the scope of AI's application beyond direct crime fighting to systemic improvements in justice delivery, such as automating legal processes or providing legal aid.

Daniel Newland, General Manager, GraphAware, explored "Graph powered fusion analysis; enhanced with digital forensics data and LLMs", demonstrating how AI and LLMs can significantly enhance the ability to correlate disparate data points from various sources to build comprehensive investigative insights. Carlos Cilleruelo Rodríguez, CEO, Cybersecurity Research, Byron Labs, provided insights into "Practical Use of LLMs on Dark Web investigations", showcasing the utility of generative AI in navigating, analyzing, and extracting intelligence from the vast and often obfuscated data found in illicit online environments. Furthermore, Humaid Alshamsi, Head of smart training and scenario design, Abu Dhabi Police, presented on "Transforming Police Training with Generative AI-powered AR/VR", pointing to the adoption of advanced AI-driven tools for enhancing law enforcement capacity building through immersive and realistic training simulations.

2.3. Emerging Technological Horizons

A forward-looking panel discussion, "Exploring Quantum: Trends, Encryption, Applications, and the Intersection with AI," was a significant feature of Day 2.1 Moderated by Vincent Danjean and Thomas Goger, the panel included leading experts such as Manas Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Centre for Quantum Technologies; Robert Bedington, Co-founder and CTO, SpeQtral Pte Ltd; and Mile Gu, Associate Professor, Nanyang Technological University. This proactive discussion anticipates future challenges, particularly concerning the potential impact of quantum computing on current cryptographic standards and data security, which could render current encryption methods obsolete.

The inclusion of a dedicated panel on quantum technologies, a field still primarily in fundamental research, alongside discussions on currently operational tools like Graphene OS and AI, illustrates a multi-horizon strategic approach to technological threats. This demonstrates that INTERPOL is not only addressing immediate operational challenges but also actively scanning the distant horizon for disruptive technologies that could fundamentally alter the landscape of crime and evidence. This proactive stance is critical for long-term preparedness, requiring resource allocation for fundamental research and partnerships with scientific communities to mitigate future risks before they become widespread criminal capabilities, particularly in areas like post-quantum cryptography, which will require significant lead time for implementation.

Yann Loubry, Cybercrime Assistant, Paris Prosecutor's Office, discussed "Secure telephony, focus on Graphene OS". This addressed the persistent challenges posed by highly encrypted communication tools and privacy-focused operating systems favored by criminal networks, and the ongoing efforts to develop methods for lawful access or intelligence gathering without compromising privacy for legitimate users. Maitha Almheiri, Research & Development Engineer, Innovation Centre, Dubai Police, presented on "Emerging Technologies within Dubai Police", showcasing real-world adoption of cutting-edge tools and innovative practices by progressive police forces. Similarly, Thierry Rey, Director of Information Systems and Technology, INTERPOL, discussed "Pragmatic implementation of emerging technologies in INTERPOL Information Systems", emphasizing INTERPOL's internal efforts to integrate advanced technologies to enhance its own operational capabilities and information systems.

3. Forum Dynamics: Structure, Sessions, and Specialized Training

The forum was meticulously structured to maximize knowledge exchange and practical skill development over two days, blending plenary sessions with targeted training tracks.

3.1. Detailed Breakdown of Day 1 (October 1st) Agenda

The first day commenced with a Welcome and Opening Ceremony, featuring key INTERPOL and Bavarian State Ministry of Justice officials, including Vincent Danjean, Madan Oberoi, Georg Eisenreich (via video), and Wolfgang Gründler.  This established the strategic and collaborative tone for the forum. A central panel discussion focused on the "Pragmatic use and implementation of AI in policing for Dark Web and Decentralized Technologies," featuring experts like Pravin Mandloi, Jennifer Woodard, and Dinil Mon Divakaran. This session directly addressed the core theme of the forum, emphasizing practical AI applications. Discussions also covered the potential for AI and the Metaverse to benefit cybercriminals at an accelerated pace, presented by Christophe Landries, highlighting the adversarial nature of technological development and the need for constant vigilance.

Afternoon sessions delved into best practices for preventing AI-enabled crimes in the crypto asset ecosystem (Eray Arda Akartuna), provided updates on blockchain adoption in the financial industry (Boon-Hiong Chan), and explored investigating peer-to-peer services in international money laundering (Nicholas Smart). These topics provided a comprehensive view of both the legitimate and illicit uses of decentralized finance. Practical case studies were presented on "Cryptocurrency mixers: Chipmixer and Cryptsy theft case-study" by Roman Bieda and Daniel Williamson, offering real-world investigative challenges and solutions for tracing illicit funds. Jonas Stürmer discussed "Tackling the infrastructure provider of a multibillion dollars scam industry," emphasizing the critical importance of disrupting the underlying technological and organizational structures that enable large-scale digital fraud. The day concluded with discussions on secure telephony, specifically Graphene OS, by Yann Loubry, and INTERPOL's achievements and new initiatives around decentralized technologies by Vincent Danjean. The day concluded with a networking cocktail sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, held at the Villa Halia Restaurant, Botanic Garden Singapore, providing an informal setting for participants to foster collaborations.

3.2. Detailed Breakdown of Day 2 (October 2nd) Agenda

The second day began by focusing on cutting-edge investigative tools, including AI for equal access to justice (Wendy O'Brien), graph-powered fusion analysis enhanced with digital forensics data and LLMs (Daniel Newland), and practical use of LLMs on Dark Web investigations (Carlos Cilleruelo Rodríguez). These sessions highlighted significant advancements in data analysis and intelligence gathering. Presentations on transforming police training with Generative AI-powered AR/VR (Humaid Alshamsi) and emerging technologies within Dubai Police (Maitha Almheiri) showcased innovative capacity-building and technology adoption strategies within modern law enforcement agencies. A significant panel discussion explored "Exploring Quantum: Trends, Encryption, Applications, and the Intersection with AI," involving leading experts from academia and industry. This demonstrated the forum's commitment to long-term strategic foresight, preparing for future cryptographic challenges.

The afternoon sessions included Thierry Rey's presentation on "Pragmatic implementation of emerging technologies in INTERPOL Information Systems," detailing internal technological advancements and their integration within INTERPOL's operational infrastructure. The afternoon was primarily dedicated to simultaneous Specialized Training Tracks, allowing participants to delve into specific areas based on their pre-assignment, ensuring tailored and in-depth learning. The forum concluded with a Closing Ceremony featuring Toshinobu Yasuhira, Director of Innovation Centre, INTERPOL, and Thomas Goger, Chief Public Prosecutor, Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime, summarizing key takeaways and looking ahead.

3.3. In-depth Analysis of Specialized Training Tracks

To ensure targeted learning and practical skill development, participants were pre-assigned to one of three specialized groups. This tailored approach maximized the utility of the training for specific operational roles within law enforcement. This structure goes significantly beyond mere information sharing or theoretical discussions. It represents a deliberate and practical effort to build concrete, hands-on skills among participants. The pre-assignment further suggests a tailored approach designed to meet the specific operational needs of different agencies or individual investigative roles. This structure confirms the forum's strong commitment to capacity building and direct skill transfer, which is crucial for law enforcement agencies struggling to keep pace with rapid technological advancements in the criminal underworld. It ensures that theoretical discussions and strategic insights are immediately translated into practical, actionable investigative capabilities, directly enhancing the operational readiness of participating agencies.

The dual role played by certain experts, such as Pravin Mandloi serving as both a panelist on strategic AI implementation and a trainer for practical AI/ML toolkit application, exemplifies a highly effective model for accelerating the adoption of new methodologies. This "expert-as-trainer" approach ensures that strategic insights are directly translated into actionable techniques for frontline investigators, fostering a rapid feedback loop between policy development, technological innovation, and practical law enforcement operations.

Table: Overview of Specialized Training Tracks

Training Group Name Focus Area Specific Topics Covered Lead Trainers/Organizations Group Advanced Tools for Analytics Demixing and Other Advanced Crypto Investigation Topics

Paul Aherne & Marian Müller (Clain) 

Fusion Analysis: Practical Application

Adam Bednar (GraphAware) 

Group 2 Encrypted Communication & Dark WebDark Web: Mapping Hidden Services

Adam Maxwell (Aikos Technologies Limited) 

Threat Actors using Private Mobile Applications

Joseph Mlodzianowski (Darknets.org) 

Group 3 Tracing Virtual Assets Identification and Extraction of Crypto Currency Artifacts

Pravin Mandloi (Central Bureau of Investigation, India) 

Blockchain Intelligence for Crimefighters

Patrick Tan (Blockchain Intelligence Academy, Chainargos) 

4. Collaborative Ecosystem: Key Participants and Contributions

The forum convened a diverse array of experts from various sectors, underscoring the multi-stakeholder approach essential for combating complex digital crimes effectively.

4.1. Overview of Diverse Expertise

The participant roster included experts from a wide spectrum of organizations: law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, Europol, Central Bureau of Investigation India, Abu Dhabi Police, Dubai Police, Paris Prosecutor's Office), government bodies (Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - UNODC), academic institutions (ASTAR Institute for Infocomm Research, City University of Hong Kong, Centre for Quantum Technologies, Nanyang Technological University), and a significant presence from the private sector (e.g., Insikt AI, Elliptic, Crystal Intelligence, Merkle Science, Token Recovery, GraphAware, Byron Labs, Clain, Aikos Technologies Limited, Darknets.org, Blockchain Intelligence Academy, Cyber Privilege Private Limited, SpeQtral Pte Ltd, Deutsche Bank AG). This broad representation highlights a critical understanding within INTERPOL: that no single sector possesses all the necessary insights, expertise, or resources to address the multifaceted and rapidly evolving challenges of Web 4.0 criminality.

The participant list explicitly includes a wide array of entities: law enforcement agencies, government bodies, private companies (spanning cybersecurity, blockchain analytics, AI development), and academic institutions. Digital crime is inherently borderless, technologically advanced, and frequently leverages commercial infrastructure or draws from academic research. Criminals operate across these traditional sectoral boundaries. Therefore, no single sector possesses all the necessary insights, tools, or capabilities to effectively combat these complex threats in isolation. This diverse participation is not merely beneficial; it is an absolute necessity for effective digital security. Combating Web 4.0 criminality requires a synergistic approach where law enforcement gains critical technical knowledge from the private sector, strategic foresight and foundational research from academia, and policy alignment and regulatory support from government bodies. This fosters a shared understanding of evolving threats and enables the development of integrated, comprehensive solutions that are both technologically sound and legally robust.

4.2. Highlighting Significant Contributions from Key Individuals and Organizations

Key figures from INTERPOL, including Vincent Danjean, Head of Cyberspace and New Technologies Lab; Madan Oberoi, Executive Director Technology and Innovation; Thierry Rey, Director of Information Systems and Technology; and Toshinobu Yasuhira, Director of Innovation Centre, played pivotal roles in organizing, moderating, and presenting. Their active involvement demonstrated INTERPOL's strategic direction and its internal capabilities in addressing new technologies. Prominent individuals from the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, Germany, such as Georg Eisenreich, Jonas Stürmer, Wolfgang Gründler, and Thomas Goger, were instrumental in the opening ceremonies, presentations, and closing remarks, showcasing the strong partnership and shared commitment from a leading European justice ministry to global digital crime initiatives.

Indian contributions were notable. Guntagani Vimal Kumar, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Cyber Privilege Private Limited, attended the forum. His presence was particularly significant as he was the

only representative from a private entity based in India at this crucial international gathering. This highlights the growing prominence of Indian expertise in the global cybersecurity landscape. Cyber Privilege Private Limited is recognized as a pioneering and leading entity in India's cybersecurity and digital forensics fields, known for its proven expertise and trailblazing efforts in leveraging AI-powered solutions for cyber forensics, SOCMINT, GEOINT, and AI-based threat detection.2 G. Vimal Kumar's participation at the forum further enhanced his and Cyber Privilege's deep understanding of Web 4.0 technologies and their implications for digital crime investigations. His contributions are further underscored by his recognition as a Cyber Excellence Awardee in 2024 and his active participation in UN cybercrime policy summits, affirming his global relevance in the field.3 He has also been instrumental in cracking numerous high-profile cybercrime cases, particularly in cryptocurrency fraud and dark net investigations, through collaborations with Indian law enforcement agencies.

Pravin Mandloi, Superintendent of Police, Special Unit, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India, served a dual role as both a panelist on AI in policing for Dark Web and Decentralized Technologies and as a trainer for "Identification and Extraction of Crypto Currency Artifacts". His dual contribution underscores the forum's integration of strategic discussion with practical capacity building and direct skill transfer.

Speakers and trainers from a wide range of international organizations and companies contributed specialized knowledge. This included expertise from blockchain analytics firms (Elliptic, Merkle Science, Crystal Intelligence, Clain, Token Recovery, Chainargos), AI research and development (Insikt AI, ASTAR, Byron Labs, GraphAware), various law enforcement agencies (FBI, Europol, UNODC, Abu Dhabi Police, Dubai Police, Paris Prosecutor's Office), and cutting-edge quantum technology specialists (Centre for Quantum Technologies, SpeQtral Pte Ltd, Nanyang Technological University). This breadth of expertise ensured a holistic and multi-faceted view of both the challenges and potential solutions in the digital crime landscape.

The forum's diverse international participation, coupled with its emphasis on knowledge exchange through panels, presentations, and specialized training, signifies a deliberate effort to build collective global capacity against digital crime. As digital crimes are inherently transnational, this structure facilitates the rapid dissemination of best practices, new investigative techniques, and emerging threat intelligence across borders. This effectively creates a global network of expertise, crucial for coordinated international responses and joint operations against transnational cybercriminals.

Table: Key Participants and Their Contributions

Name Affiliation Country Role at Forum Specific Topic/Session Contributed To Vincent DANJEAN INTERPOL-Head of Cyberspace and New Technologies Lab, Moderator, Presenter Welcome, AI in Policing Panel, Quantum Panel, Achievements & New Initiatives Madan OBEROIINTERPOL-Executive Director Technology and Innovation, Speaker Opening Ceremony Thierry REYINTERPOL-Director of Information Systems and Technology, Presenter Pragmatic implementation of emerging technologies in INTERPOL Information Systems Toshinobu YASUHIRAINTERPOL-Director of Innovation Centre, Speaker Closing Ceremony Georg EISENREICH Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, Germany Germany Speaker (video)Opening Ceremony Jonas STÜRMER Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, Germany Germany Public Prosecutor, Presenter Tackling the infrastructure provider of a multibillion dollars scam industry  Wolfgang GRÜNDLER Public Prosecutor General in Bamberg, Germany Germany Speaker Opening Ceremony Thomas GOGER Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime, Germany Germany Chief Public Prosecutor, Moderator, Speaker Day Conclusion, Quantum Panel, Closing Ceremony Guntagani Vimal Kumar Cyber Privilege Private Limited India CTO, Attendee Attended the forum, gaining insights into Web 4.0 technologies Pravin MANDLOI Central Bureau of Investigation, India India Superintendent of Police, Panelist, Trainer AI in Policing Panel, Identification and Extraction of Crypto Currency Artifacts Jennifer WOODARD Insikt AI Spain Co-Founder, Panelist Pragmatic use and implementation of AI in policing for Dark Web and Decentralized Technologies Dinil Mon DIVAKARANASTAR Institute for Infocomm Research Singapore Senior Principal Scientist, Panelist Pragmatic use and implementation of AI in policing for Dark Web and Decentralized Technologies Christophe LANDRIES Europol Federal Police (BE) - J-CAT Belgium Cyber Liaison Officer, Presenter Will AI and Metaverse benefit (cyber)criminals at an accelerated pace? Eray Arda AKART UNA City University of Hong Kong / Elliptic Hong Kong (China)Assistant Professor / Senior Crypto Threat Researcher, Presenter Best practices for preventing AI-enabled crimes in the crypto asset ecosystem Boon-Hiong CHAN Deutsche Bank AG Singapore Singapore Director, Presenter Update on the financial industry's adoption of blockchains Nicholas SMART Crystal Intelligence UAE Director, Presenter Investigating Peer to Peer Services Role in International Money Laundering Ian LEE Merkle Science Singapore Founding Team Director, Presenter New Threat Vectors - Crypto Address Poisoning and more Roman BIEDA Token Recovery Poland Head of Investigations, Presenter Cryptocurrency mixers: Chipmixer and Cryptsy theft case-study Daniel Williamson Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)USA Agent, Presenter Cryptocurrency mixers: Chipmixer and Cryptsy theft case-study Yann LOUBRY Paris Prosecutor's Office, French Ministry of Justice France Cybercrime Assistant, Presenter Secure telephony, focus on Graphene OS Wendy O'BRIEN United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Austria Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, Presenter AI for Equal Access to Justice Daniel NEWLAND Graph Aware Australia General Manager, Presenter Graph powered fusion analysis; enhanced with digital forensics data and LLMs Carlos CILLERUELO RODRÍGUEZ Byron Labs Spain CEO, Presenter Practical Use of LLMs on Dark Web investigations Humaid ALSHAMSI Abu Dhabi Police UAE Head of smart training and scenario design, Presenter Transforming Police Training with Generative AI-powered AR/VR Maitha ALMHEIRI Dubai Police UAE Research & Development Engineer, Presenter Emerging Technologies within Dubai Police Manas MUKHERJEE Centre for Quantum Technologies Singapore Associate Professor, Panelist Exploring Quantum: Trends, Encryption, Applications, and the Intersection with AI Robert BEDINGTON Spe Qtral Pte Ltd Singapore Co-founder and CTO, Panelist Exploring Quantum: Trends, Encryption, Applications, and the Intersection with AI Mile GU Nanyang Technological University Singapore Associate Professor, Panelist Exploring Quantum: Trends, Encryption, Applications, and the Intersection with AI Paul AHERNEC lain USA Director, Global Accounts, Trainer Demixing and Other Advanced Crypto Investigation Topics Marian MÜLLER Clain Georgia Head of Education, Trainer Demixing and Other Advanced Crypto Investigation Topics Adam BEDNAR Graph Aware UK Technical Engineer, Trainer Fusion Analysis: Practical Application Adam MAXWELL Aikos Technologies Limited UK CEO, Trainer Dark Web: Mapping Hidden Services Joseph MLODZIANOWSKI Darknets.org USA Director, Trainer Threat Actors using Private Mobile Applications Patrick TAN Block chain Intelligence Academy, Chainargos Singapore General Counsel, Trainer Block chain Intelligence for Crimefighters

5. Strategic Implications and Expected Outcomes

The forum was designed with clear objectives, aiming to translate discussions into tangible advancements for global law enforcement.

5.1. Analysis of the Forum's Anticipated Impact

A core aim was to facilitate dialogue on encrypted networks, decentralized technologies, and their use in crime and law enforcement. This ongoing conversation is crucial for developing a shared understanding of complex technical issues and their evolving legal and operational implications across diverse jurisdictions. A key expected outcome was to report on the current state of technologies in terms of their threat potential, their utility as investigative tools, and their role as digital evidence. This provides a vital baseline assessment for future strategic planning, resource allocation, and the development of new investigative methodologies.

The forum explicitly sought to enhance cross-sector collaboration and knowledge exchange, providing opportunities for professional networking to foster new collaborations and projects. The structured bilateral meetings and the sponsored networking cocktail were specifically designed to achieve this, recognizing that digital crime requires a united front. A primary and highly actionable expected outcome was to provide concrete recommendations for law enforcement and decision-makers on solutions to combat decentralized technology threats. This highlights the forum's intent to directly influence policy and operational strategies at both national and international levels.

The forum's anticipated outcomes, which explicitly progress from facilitating "Discussions" to fostering "Collaboration" and culminating in "Best Practices/Recommendations," reveal a clear intent to move beyond mere conversational exchange. This sequential progression indicates a strategic design aimed at translating complex technological challenges into practical, actionable intelligence and concrete guidance for global law enforcement. The forum thus functions as a vital conduit for translating knowledge into operational practice.

5.2. Discussion of Recommendations to Combat Decentralized Technology Threats

The explicit focus on "solutions provided to combat decentralized technology threat" implies a recognition of the need for a multi-pronged approach. This encompasses not only the development and adoption of advanced technological tools but also the adaptation of legal frameworks and the strengthening of international cooperation mechanisms. The emphasis on "best practices" suggests the forum's role in initiating the development of standardized or widely accepted methods for investigating and prosecuting crimes that involve decentralized technologies. This is crucial for promoting consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness across diverse national jurisdictions, which often face similar challenges but may lack harmonized approaches.

The forum's aim to provide recommendations for combating decentralized technology threats implicitly highlights the urgent need for agile and adaptive legal and policy frameworks. Given that decentralized technologies evolve rapidly and often outpace existing regulations, and the borderless nature of digital crime challenges traditional jurisdictions, the recommendations will likely advocate for greater harmonization of international laws, new legislative tools for virtual asset crime, and more efficient mechanisms for cross-border data sharing and mutual legal assistance. The forum, therefore, serves as a critical catalyst for legislative reform and international policy development in the digital domain.

6. Recommendations for Future Policing in Web 4.0

Drawing from the forum's insights and expected outcomes, several actionable recommendations emerge for strategic planning and capacity building in law enforcement to effectively operate in the Web 4.0 era.

6.1. Policy and Legislative Adaptations

To effectively counter the borderless and technologically advanced nature of digital crime, law enforcement agencies should actively develop and advocate for globally harmonized legal and regulatory frameworks specifically tailored for decentralized technologies and AI. This is essential to enable seamless cross-border investigations and prosecutions, overcoming jurisdictional complexities inherent in digital crime. Furthermore, establishing robust mechanisms for continuous legislative review and foresight is critical. This should anticipate and address the legal implications of emerging technologies, such as quantum computing's potential impact on cryptographic evidence or AI's evolving role in criminal intent and liability. Finally, formalizing and incentivizing secure, ethical, and efficient data-sharing protocols between law enforcement agencies and the private sector is crucial. Leveraging industry insights and proprietary data sources is vital for enhanced threat intelligence, identification of criminal networks, and generation of actionable investigative leads.

6.2. Technology Adoption and Development

Strategic investment in the research, development, and deployment of advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools must be prioritized. These tools should be specifically tailored for digital forensics, virtual asset tracing, sophisticated Dark Web analysis, and predictive policing capabilities. Concurrently, quantum-resistant preparedness should be initiated and adequately funded, including dedicated research programs into quantum-resistant cryptography. Law enforcement must develop comprehensive strategies for securing digital evidence, sensitive communications, and critical infrastructure in anticipation of a post-quantum cryptographic era, where current encryption methods may become vulnerable. Promoting the development and widespread adoption of interoperable technological platforms and data standards is also essential. These platforms should allow for seamless data fusion, analysis, and secure sharing across different law enforcement agencies, national jurisdictions, and international partners, enhancing collaborative investigative capabilities.

6.3. Capacity Building and Training

Implementing continuous, modular, and highly specialized training programs for digital crime investigators, prosecutors, and forensic examiners is paramount. These programs should focus on practical, hands-on skills in areas such as advanced virtual asset tracing, analysis of encrypted communications, and proficient utilization of AI/ML toolkits. Actively fostering and expanding an "expert-as-trainer" model, where leading practitioners and subject matter experts within law enforcement not only share strategic insights but also directly develop the operational skills of their peers across international agencies, will accelerate knowledge transfer. Additionally, exploring and integrating cutting-edge immersive technologies, such as Generative AI-powered Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), for realistic and scalable police training scenarios, as demonstrated by Abu Dhabi Police, offers highly effective and adaptable training environments.

6.4. Enhanced International Collaboration

To address the transnational nature of cybercrime, law enforcement must actively pursue and strengthen bilateral and multilateral agreements for intelligence sharing, joint operational task forces, and mutual legal assistance in digital crime cases. These partnerships are fundamental to effective responses. Furthermore, replicating the interactive, practical, and multi-stakeholder aspects of the INTERPOL New Technologies Forum in regional and national contexts can foster localized expertise, build stronger regional collaboration networks, and ensure that global best practices are adapted and implemented effectively at a local level.

7. Conclusion

The 3rd INTERPOL New Technologies Forum served as a crucial nexus for global law enforcement, government, academia, and the private sector, collectively confronting the evolving challenges posed by decentralized technologies and artificial intelligence in the context of Web 4.0. The event underscored a proactive and anticipatory approach to digital security, moving beyond reactive measures to prepare for future criminal landscapes shaped by advanced technologies.

The forum's comprehensive agenda, blending strategic discussions with practical, hands-on training, demonstrated a clear commitment to enhancing operational capabilities worldwide. The emphasis on public-private-academic partnerships and the "expert-as-trainer" model highlighted the necessity of a multi-stakeholder, collaborative ecosystem for effective digital crime combat. By fostering dialogue, facilitating knowledge exchange, and providing concrete recommendations, the forum has laid critical groundwork for developing agile legal frameworks, investing in advanced technological tools, and building robust global capacity to address the complexities of Web 4.0 criminality. The outcomes of this forum will undoubtedly serve as a vital guide for international law enforcement in navigating the intricate and rapidly evolving digital frontier.