Cybercrime Monitor Netherlands 2024

Combating cybercrime effectively is only possible if the police and the Public Prosecution Service, public and private partners work together intensively and commit to a broad approach. This means that they not only detect and prosecute cybercrime, but also stop it (disruption), limit the damage (via notification) and prevent perpetration and victimisation (prevention). In this report, the Public Prosecution Service and the Dutch Police Force share their experiences from investigative practice on the main trends and developments, what impact cybercrime has and why a standard approach is not possible. 

Since cybercrime takes many different forms and is always changing, a unconventional approach is needed to combat it. Combating cybercrime necessitates ongoing skill development because it is a global crime with a local footprint by default. It takes less effort than ever for criminals to enter the realm of cybercrime, even if law enforcement and prosecution need knowledge, experience, time, and focus to confront it. Being a cybercriminal does not require one to be tech knowledgeable because technically proficient people routinely offer their criminal services, goods, and expertise online under the moniker "cybercrime-as-a-service." This makes it possible for a diverse range of offenders to perpetrate cybercrime.

The Netherlands as a host country for criminal infrastructure

Netherlands-based data centers and hosting providers play an important part in countering cybercrime. Some data centers and hosting providers present themselves as legitimate, but take little to no responsibility for minimising the amount of illegal content on their servers, and advertise their services on the criminal market, thus actively facilitating cybercrime. Despite improved legislation that the Digital Services Act (DSA) provides, room for questionable business models persists.

A comprehensive approach is crucial for effectively countering cybercrime

Public and private partners play a crucial part in combating cybercrime. The cybercrime ecosystem is both flexible and resilient. Local interventions are important where they are possible, but they are not necessarily of great impact on the system as a whole. Counteraction therefore requires a comprehensive and systemic approach, in which various stakeholders have their own expertise and responsibility. Law enforcement and prosecution are important parts of that comprehensive counteraction, but other public and private stakeholders play a crucial role as well. A comprehensive, integrated and systemic approach does not only involve prosecution of cybercriminals, but needs to include disruption of their criminal activity, victim notification and prevention that focuses both on victims as well as offenders.

More information

• Click here to read the full Cyber Crime Monitors Netherlands 2024 report in Dutch.
• Click here to read the English summary of the Cyber Crime Monitor Netherlands 2024.

Photo: Istock.com/TexBr