Top Technologies Enabling Criminals to
Accelerate Crime and Evade Detection
GenAI technologies have made it easier for criminals to
produce convincing text, video and audio content,
significantly fueling fraudulent and criminal activities. More
than half (55%) of LEAs say GenAI-powered chatbots
are the top technology enabling criminals, while 38%
point to the growing use of deepfake videos and audio
produced by GenAI tools.
LEAs also highlight several technologies that help
criminals operate under the radar. 54% cite group
messaging apps, such as Telegram and Discord, which
criminals are increasingly using both for communications
as well as for buying and selling malware, stolen data,
illegal goods and illicit services. 40% identify satellite
communications as a key enabler allowing criminals
to evade detection, due to increasingly affordable and
accessible satellite services such as Starlink. 31% point
to the role of cryptocurrencies, which allow criminals to
conduct financial transactions and launder illegal gains
with seeming anonymity.
LEAs that are rarely or never able to effectively resolve
investigations overwhelmingly view group messaging apps
as a significant driver of crime (83%), as seen in Figure 2.
This indicates that LEAs lacking the necessary technology
solutions to address criminal activities on these platforms
face increased challenges in their investigations.
Top Technologies Enabling Criminals
Group Messaging Platforms as a Top Crime Enabler in Relation
to Ability of LEAs to Successfully Resolve Investigations
Figure 1
Figure 2
Gen AI chatbots
Group messaging apps
Satellite phones &
satellite internet
GenAI-created deepfakes
Ransomware as a service
Cryptocurrencies
Drones
Always
Often
Sometimes
Rarely or never
* Question allowed more than one answer and as a result,
percentages will add up to more than 100%
43%
44%
63%
83%
| 2025 Law Enforcement Outlook 8
55%
54%
40%
38%
38%
31%
22%