The forum’s theme, “Dealing with Volume and Complexity,” highlighted the core issue: today’s investigators are confronted with massive amounts of data – from encrypted communication networks and cryptocurrency transactions to automated attacks. To navigate this complexity and make sense of this data, new technologies are needed that can detect patterns in millions of data points, establish connections, and suggest actionable steps.

“This is where complexity science comes into play,” explains Stefan Thurner, President of the CSH. “Its methods allow us to reveal patterns in highly complex systems, providing law enforcement with new tools.”

The forum covered topics such as the opportunities and risks of quantum technologies, decentralized systems for managing complex data flows, the use of large language models and automation in investigations, and the challenges posed by encrypted networks.

Thomas Goger, Chief Public Prosecutor and Deputy Director of the Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime (ZCB): “Crime schemes are becoming increasingly complex across the board. To keep up, law enforcement and prosecutors need to engage with academia and the private sector to explore how technology and innovative methods can support our daily work. That is what the New Technologies Forum is all about. The Complexity Science Hub has provided the perfect environment for this event.”

CSH scientist Bernhard Haslhofer, who has been conducting research in this field for years and has long collaborated with Bavarian law enforcement authorities, emphasized: “Criminals adopt new technologies very quickly, often faster than authorities.” His work is an example of how science can provide support: together with his team, Haslhofer has developed methods to trace cryptocurrency payment flows and visualize transaction networks. “Because illegal activities, such as arms trafficking or the distribution of abusive material on the darknet, are often conducted via cryptocurrencies, this technology can help investigators connect individual cases and target criminals more effectively. Digital forensic tools like these are essential to keep pace in a digitalized world,” Haslhofer explains.

“Challenges faced by police in the 196 member countries of INTERPOL are colossal and can certainly be addressed with technology. However, the real challenge that the Innovation Centre, CSH, and the ZCB are tackling through their collaboration is equipping police forces with the technical skills needed to make the most of these technologies in handling today’s vast amounts of data and the increasing complexity of investigations,” says Vincent Danjean, Head of the Cyberspace and New Technologies Laboratory at INTERPOL.