The Cybercrime Ecosystem: Problems and Prospects

Hosted by Center for Gambling Studies

Panelists

• Dr. Supot Tiarawut, Digital Transformation Expert

• Ekraj Sabur, or the representative of UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

• Asso. Prof. Dr. Tossapon Tassanapan, Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University

Moderator

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Jessada Salathong, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University

Background

The World Economic Forum’s 2023 and 2024 reports outline global risk frameworks over the short term (2 years) and long term (10 years) across five key dimensions: economic, environmental, geopolitical, social, and technological. Cybercrime and cybersecurity are collectively assessed as one of the top 10 global risks in both time frames. This is due to the fact that the development and utilization of new technologies often come with insufficient regulatory oversight, creating loopholes that offer new opportunities for cybercriminal activities. At the same time, these advancements have also strengthened and expanded the capabilities of cybersecurity and surveillance systems. This paradox has persisted for decades since the beginning of the information age.

Today, cybercrime has evolved into a powerful and highly organized industry—larger than ever imagined—and it continues to expand as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into the operations of organized crime groups. Technological advancements have led cybercriminal organizations to adopt a division of labor, giving rise to a cybercrime ecosystem. These groups are organized into specialized units—or nodes—each focused on a specific task while continuously refining their own skills and techniques. When connected as a network, these nodes can coordinate and execute large-scale cyberattacks efficiently and simultaneously.

This trend is clearly illustrated in the UNODC’s January 2024 report on casinos, money laundering, underground banking, and transnational organized crime in East and Southeast Asia. The report highlights how cybercrime groups operate across borders, strategically selecting jurisdictions with weak law enforcement as their operational hubs.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 report, the rapid advancement of Generative AI has led to more complex and less detectable cyber threats, with growing use of such technologies in malicious activities. In 2024, the use of deepfake technology to deceive facial recognition and identity verification systems increased by 704% compared to 2023. Moreover, large language models (LLMs) have made phishing scams more persuasive and pervasive than ever before. Furthermore, AI-powered voice cloning has been increasingly exploited to impersonate trusted individuals and make urgent, convincing requests for money.

Effective prevention and response efforts require a multi-stakeholder approach—combining investment in secure technologies, collaboration among national agencies, cross-border cooperation, and public awareness—to strengthen preparedness against emerging forms of cyber threats.

Objectives

• To understand the cybercrime ecosystem in terms of technology, real-world scenarios, and prevention measures.

• To brainstorm strategies for response and preparedness—covering legal frameworks, policies, practical measures, and the use of technology—aimed at achieving a Smart Nation, Smart Life.

Key Issues

• Emerging trends in artificial intelligence and its application in cyber threats, along with the development of effective preventive measures

• Illustrating the scale and complexity of the cybercrime ecosystem in East and Southeast Asia

• Examining response strategies at both national and transnational levels, including legal and operational gaps that require urgent attention

• Brainstorming and forecasting key cyber threat trends and identifying appropriate technologies for prevention and mitigation.

Expected Outcomes

Guidelines for the proactive development of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance preparedness for diverse and evolving cyber threats.

Expected Output

Meeting Summary Report: Documenting key discussion points, recommendations, and identified next steps.

Contact

thaicgs@gmail.com