Promoting Responsible Use of New and Emerging Technologies to Address Crime and Exploitation

New and emerging technologies play a pivotal role in preventing and combatting transnational crime and global security threats. They can support the dentification and regulation of transnational criminal activity and networks as well as promote practices for a sustainable and inclusive future. However, new and emerging technologies can also be used as tools for malicious purposes, such as for crime and violence, as well as enablers of threats against peace, justice, and security.

UNICRI works in key criminal justice areas related to the risks and opportunities presented by emerging and new technologies. These areas are evolving and dynamic, and therefore are presented as broad in scope and designed to be adaptive to contextual factors and opportunities.

The areas that UNICRI works in include, but are not limited to:

• New and emerging technologies in law enforcement
• Governance and frameworks of artificial intelligence
• Cybercrime and the use of new and emerging technologies for criminal purposes
• Digital cooperation, digital inclusivity, and the digital divide

UNICRI works with national authorities, law enforcement agencies, the public-private sector, and civil society actors to harness the opportunities of new and emerging technologies related to justice, as well as to advance understanding of their potential risks to justice, including how their use may impact human rights.   

UNICRI works with law enforcement agencies to promote the responsible use of new and emerging technologies, including toolkits and policy frameworks for the responsible use of AI, such as facial recognition technology. The Institute continues its proven work across a network of collaborators in civil society and public-private sectors to raise awareness on how technology can monitor human rights abuses and target transnational criminal activity, such as identifying those involved in online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

With its focus on justice, UNICRI also continues to support the UN Common Agenda’s goals to enhance global collaboration to address the societal, ethical, legal, and economic impacts of digital technologies to maximize benefits and minimize harm to society. This includes UNICRI’s Future Series Webinars, which promote research, knowledge sharing, and dissemination related to new and emerging technologies such as Web 3.0, metaverse, and augmented reality.

Countering Criminal Enterprises, Illicit Financial Flows, and Corrupt Practices

Endemic criminal activities and their proceeds are associated with contemporary global threats that undermine public trust in the rule of law, weaken institutional resilience, and corrupt justice systems. Criminal financial enterprises and illicit financial flows divert vital funds away from social, health, and other development needs. Profits can also be reinvested to support terrorism and other criminal activities. This has particularly adverse consequences for the most vulnerable in society.

UNICRI has identified key areas of focus in its work to combat criminal enterprises, illicit financial flows, and corrupt practices. These include:

• Transnational organized crime networks and online criminal markets
• Illicit finance and the global criminal economy
• Stolen public and cultural asset recovery and repatriation
• Counterfeiting, fraudulent goods, and supply chain integrity

UNICRI will work with governments, justice departments, legal institutions, and prosecuting authorities to target incentives for involvement in criminal financial enterprises, illicit financial flows, counterfeit trade, and corrupt practices. It will support Member States in the investigation and prosecution of economic crimes, including bolstering parallel financial investigations and more effective modalities for the seizure and confiscation of illicitly acquired assets, which may also include cultural artefacts.

UNICRI will also provide expert advice and support Member State efforts to counter corrupt practices, including those related to intellectual property protection, counterfeiting, and insulating food and health care supply chains from organized crime infiltration. UNICRI will continue to advise Member States on policies and mechanisms to channel recovered assets into high-priority development needs and tackle the financial and economic impacts of organised crime and corruption.