https://form.jotform.com/252011840510440 [493]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A-0xlXcMINO2pq1ZUUAbqfMJRwOHw-9r/view… [500]
Workshop on AI and Transnational Organized Crimes
16 – 19 September 2025
Please read the full concept note here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A-0xlXcMINO2pq1ZUUAbqfMJRwOHw-9r/view?usp=sharing
Please register here: https://form.jotform.com/252011840510440
Organized by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are advancing at an unprecedented rate, promising transformative potential across a wide array of sectors, from healthcare and education to governance and economic development. Yet, alongside these positive advancements, the rapid proliferation of AI is concurrently giving rise to substantial security and governance challenges that demand urgent attention.
While AI undeniably offers significant efficiency, decision-making, and automation advantages, it's increasingly being exploited by organized criminal networks to facilitate transnational crimes. These emerging AI-enabled transnational crimes manifest in various insidious forms. We're witnessing the use of deepfake technologies for sophisticated fraud and extortion schemes, the deployment of generative AI to power large-scale phishing and social engineering attacks, the development of AI-assisted money laundering operations, and, disturbingly, the abuse of AI tools in human trafficking and child exploitation. The inherently anonymous and borderless nature of cyberspace allows these crimes to proliferate with astonishing speed and scale, frequently outpacing the capabilities of current law enforcement.
These concerning trends are particularly pronounced within the Asia-Pacific region. In the Asia-Pacific region, many nations are eagerly embracing AI-driven innovation to propel their digital economies and foster sustainable growth. The region's expansive digital ecosystem, rapidly growing economies, persistent digital divides, and varied levels of cyber governance create fertile ground for AI-enabled criminal activities. Also, underdeveloped regulatory frameworks and disparities in law enforcement capacities exacerbate the problem. High rates of cross-border data flows, porous digital borders, and the rapidly evolving nature of AI applications make transnational crimes involving AI both frequent and exceedingly complex to address. Despite mounting enforcement efforts, cyber-enabled fraud has continued to intensify. According to UNODC estimates, financial losses from scams targeting East and Southeast Asian victims reached between USD 18 billion and 37 billion in 2023.[1] Furthermore, its studies also report a staggering 1,530 per cent increase in deepfake-related crimes in the Asia-Pacific between 2022 and 2023.[2] On average, organizations in Asia Pacific faced 1,835 new cyberattacks every week, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 1,248[3]. This challenging environment is further complicated by the fact that cybercriminals often leverage legally and technologically vulnerable nations as bases for activities like ransomware distribution, and illegal server operations, exploiting the physical distance between the crime's origin and its victims to evade international investigations.
In response, many Asia-Pacific governments are adopting multifaceted strategies. For example, Australia published its AI Ethics Principles in 2019 and updated its Voluntary AI Safety Standard in September 2024, establishing 10 “AI guardrails” to ensure systems are safe, secure, and reliable, while Malaysia launched a National AI Office in December 2024 with mandates to develop ethical AI codes, craft a five-year AI strategy, and regulate the responsible use of AI. International organizations such as the United Nations are also playing key roles. UN Women emphasizes the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of violence and harmful behaviour in digital environments[4], while the OHCHR recommends bans on AI applications that cannot comply with international human rights law, andmoratoriums on the sale and use of AI systems that carry a high risk of adverse human rights impacts,unless and until adequate safeguards are in place[5]. These initiatives support capacity building, responsible AI governance in criminal justice, and stronger legal cooperation across borders.
Given the rapidly evolving threat landscape, proactive engagement is essential. Early warning systems, international collaboration, and continuous knowledge sharing are critical to keeping pace with emerging AI-enabled transnational crimes. This workshop seeks to provide a timely platform for policymakers, experts, and practitioners to exchange insights, strengthen capacities, and explore innovative policy responses to mitigate these escalating risks across the Asia-Pacific region.Specifically, they will gain insights into and anticipate the evolving trends of emerging AI-enabled transnational organized crimes, learn about the current response strategies and best practices adopted by specialized agencies for each type of crime, cultivate the ability to design appropriate legal frameworks and policies to effectively counter these crimes, and build a robust network with fellow participants and resource persons, thereby laying the groundwork for enhanced international cooperation.
Event Objectives
• To deepen understanding of how AI is exploited by transnationally organized crime in the Asia-Pacific region across various crime types.
• To provide a platform for sharing experiences, successful strategies, and lessons learned among diverse stakeholders.
• To assess existing legal, enforcement capabilities, and technological gaps, and identify areas for capacity building and harmonizing policies across jurisdictions to ensure a unified and effective response to transnational crimes.
• To promote partnerships across governments, international organizations, private sector, academia, and civil society for integrated responses.
• To generate actionable policy recommendations guiding national, regional, local and international responses.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
• Provide a shared understanding of the AI-enabled crime landscape, new attack vectors, and evolving criminal tactics.
• Strengthen networks for knowledge sharing, operational coordination, and joint responses, especially on cybercrime and trafficking.
• Identify innovative policy, technological, and capacity-building solutions addressing regional cybersecurity and AI risks.
• Develop concrete proposals for public-private partnerships, legal cooperation, and asymmetric defence strategies.
• Create or design a strategic roadmap guiding future policy, resource allocation, and targeted interventions.
Target Audience
This training is open to relevant policymakers, law enforcement officials, judicial officers, cybersecurity experts, intelligence analysts, and representatives from civil society organizations and the private sectorfrom the Asia Pacific region, who have been engaged in tasks for sustainable development in line with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Programme Structure and Contents
Timetable
| Check-in | Day1 | Day2 | Day3 | Day4 | Check-Out |
| 09.15 Mon | 09.16 Tue | 09.17 Wed | 09.18 Thu | 09.19 Fri | 09.20 Sat |
9:30 | Arrival And hotel check-in (according to individual flight itineraries) | Registration | Day 1 Review | Day 2 Review | Individual Action Plan | Departure and hotel check-out (according to individual flight itineraries) |
10:00 | Opening Remarks | Lecture 3 | Lecture 5 |
10:30 |
11:00 | Lecture 1 | Sharing My Action Plan |
11:30 | Lecture 4 | Lecture 6 |
12:00 | Wrap up & Closing Remarks |
12:30 | Lunch |
13:00 | Lunch | Lunch |
13:30 | Lunch |
14:00 | Lecture 2 |
14:30 | Field Trip (TBD) | Participants' Case Sharing 2 |
15:00 | Field Trip (TBD) |
15:30 | Participants' Case Sharing 1 |
16:00 | Policy Lab 2 |
16:30 |
17:00 | Policy Lab 1 |
17:30 |
18:00 |
18:30 | Dinner
|
*The schedule above is subject to change.
*Each session includes a 15-minute break
Contents Detail
*The contents above are subject to change.
Methodology
The workshop consists of:
• Expert-led lectures
• Community/City/Country-level case study sharing
• Group Activities
• Field Trips
Application Process
To apply for the workshop, please complete the official online application form at the link below by the deadline.
Application Deadline: August 14, 2025 (Thursday), 23:59 Korean Standard Time
Official Application Form Link: Click Here
The online form consists of several parts. Please be prepared to:
1. Fill out all required fields for your personal and professional information.
2. Complete the following agreements and descriptions directly within the form:
- Letter of Commitment (e-signature required)
- Acknowledgement, Waiver, and Release of Liability (e-signature required)
- Consent to Collection, Usage, and Disclosure of Personal Information (e-signature required)
- Case Study Description
3. Upload the following documents as files within the form:
- Letter of Nomination (Scanned file with official seal)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Important Notes:
- Only selected applicants will be notified individually.
- Applications will not be considered unless all required sections are completed and all necessary documents are uploaded directly in the form.
- Late applications will not be accepted. The form will automatically close after the deadline.
Assistance with Travel Expenses
UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC provides LIMITED financial assistance with airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea, for participants.
The following table represents the maximum amount of financial assistance for round-trip international airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea to participate in the workshop.
Point of departure | Airfare Assistance Limit |
Eastern Asia | US$400 (from Mongolia US$650) |
South-Eastern Asia | US$550 (from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar US$750) |
Southern Asia | US$900 (from Bangladesh US$ 950 and from Nepal US$ 1,050) |
Pacific Islands | US$1,300 |
* Other points of departure – please contact UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC |
* Local expenses (transportation between venue and hotel, accommodation, and meals) during the workshop period (only from 16 September-19 September) will be covered by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC.
**All other expenses (local transportation in their own country, visa fee, local transportation from the airport to the hotel in Jeju before the workshop), including during arrival and departure days, should be covered by the participants.
***If your final airfare is LOWER than the amount stated in the reimbursement table above, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju will ONLY reimburse you the EXACT amount paid.
Event Details
Date, Time, and Venue
Date: September 16 – 19, 2025
Time: 9:30 – 18:30, TBD
Venue: In Person, Jeju International Peace Institute, Jeju Island
Ms. Jiwon SHIN,
Programme Officer
Tel: 82 64 735 6586
Email: jwshin.jitc@gmail.com
[1] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud, Underground Banking and Technological Innovation in Southeast Asia: A Shifting Threat Landscape (Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2024), 21.
[2]Ibid., 9.
[3] Olajide Oyadeyi, Oluwadamilola Oyadeyi, and Rofiat Bello, Cybercrime in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Case Study of Commonwealth APAC Countries (London: Commonwealth Secretariat, 2024), 31
[4] UN Women, Placing Gender Equality at the Heart of the Global Digital Compact: Taking Forward the Recommendations of the Sixty-Seventh Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (New York: United Nations, 2024), 8.
[5] Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Submission to the Global Digital Compact (Geneva: United Nations, 2023), 12.
https://form.jotform.com/252011840510440 [493]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A-0xlXcMINO2pq1ZUUAbqfMJRwOHw-9r/view… [500]
Workshop on AI and Transnational Organized Crimes
16 – 19 September 2025
Please read the full concept note here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A-0xlXcMINO2pq1ZUUAbqfMJRwOHw-9r/view?usp=sharing
Please register here: https://form.jotform.com/252011840510440
Organized by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are advancing at an unprecedented rate, promising transformative potential across a wide array of sectors, from healthcare and education to governance and economic development. Yet, alongside these positive advancements, the rapid proliferation of AI is concurrently giving rise to substantial security and governance challenges that demand urgent attention.
While AI undeniably offers significant efficiency, decision-making, and automation advantages, it's increasingly being exploited by organized criminal networks to facilitate transnational crimes. These emerging AI-enabled transnational crimes manifest in various insidious forms. We're witnessing the use of deepfake technologies for sophisticated fraud and extortion schemes, the deployment of generative AI to power large-scale phishing and social engineering attacks, the development of AI-assisted money laundering operations, and, disturbingly, the abuse of AI tools in human trafficking and child exploitation. The inherently anonymous and borderless nature of cyberspace allows these crimes to proliferate with astonishing speed and scale, frequently outpacing the capabilities of current law enforcement.
These concerning trends are particularly pronounced within the Asia-Pacific region. In the Asia-Pacific region, many nations are eagerly embracing AI-driven innovation to propel their digital economies and foster sustainable growth. The region's expansive digital ecosystem, rapidly growing economies, persistent digital divides, and varied levels of cyber governance create fertile ground for AI-enabled criminal activities. Also, underdeveloped regulatory frameworks and disparities in law enforcement capacities exacerbate the problem. High rates of cross-border data flows, porous digital borders, and the rapidly evolving nature of AI applications make transnational crimes involving AI both frequent and exceedingly complex to address. Despite mounting enforcement efforts, cyber-enabled fraud has continued to intensify. According to UNODC estimates, financial losses from scams targeting East and Southeast Asian victims reached between USD 18 billion and 37 billion in 2023.[1] Furthermore, its studies also report a staggering 1,530 per cent increase in deepfake-related crimes in the Asia-Pacific between 2022 and 2023.[2] On average, organizations in Asia Pacific faced 1,835 new cyberattacks every week, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 1,248[3]. This challenging environment is further complicated by the fact that cybercriminals often leverage legally and technologically vulnerable nations as bases for activities like ransomware distribution, and illegal server operations, exploiting the physical distance between the crime's origin and its victims to evade international investigations.
In response, many Asia-Pacific governments are adopting multifaceted strategies. For example, Australia published its AI Ethics Principles in 2019 and updated its Voluntary AI Safety Standard in September 2024, establishing 10 “AI guardrails” to ensure systems are safe, secure, and reliable, while Malaysia launched a National AI Office in December 2024 with mandates to develop ethical AI codes, craft a five-year AI strategy, and regulate the responsible use of AI. International organizations such as the United Nations are also playing key roles. UN Women emphasizes the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of violence and harmful behaviour in digital environments[4], while the OHCHR recommends bans on AI applications that cannot comply with international human rights law, andmoratoriums on the sale and use of AI systems that carry a high risk of adverse human rights impacts,unless and until adequate safeguards are in place[5]. These initiatives support capacity building, responsible AI governance in criminal justice, and stronger legal cooperation across borders.
Given the rapidly evolving threat landscape, proactive engagement is essential. Early warning systems, international collaboration, and continuous knowledge sharing are critical to keeping pace with emerging AI-enabled transnational crimes. This workshop seeks to provide a timely platform for policymakers, experts, and practitioners to exchange insights, strengthen capacities, and explore innovative policy responses to mitigate these escalating risks across the Asia-Pacific region.Specifically, they will gain insights into and anticipate the evolving trends of emerging AI-enabled transnational organized crimes, learn about the current response strategies and best practices adopted by specialized agencies for each type of crime, cultivate the ability to design appropriate legal frameworks and policies to effectively counter these crimes, and build a robust network with fellow participants and resource persons, thereby laying the groundwork for enhanced international cooperation.
Event Objectives
• To deepen understanding of how AI is exploited by transnationally organized crime in the Asia-Pacific region across various crime types.
• To provide a platform for sharing experiences, successful strategies, and lessons learned among diverse stakeholders.
• To assess existing legal, enforcement capabilities, and technological gaps, and identify areas for capacity building and harmonizing policies across jurisdictions to ensure a unified and effective response to transnational crimes.
• To promote partnerships across governments, international organizations, private sector, academia, and civil society for integrated responses.
• To generate actionable policy recommendations guiding national, regional, local and international responses.
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
• Provide a shared understanding of the AI-enabled crime landscape, new attack vectors, and evolving criminal tactics.
• Strengthen networks for knowledge sharing, operational coordination, and joint responses, especially on cybercrime and trafficking.
• Identify innovative policy, technological, and capacity-building solutions addressing regional cybersecurity and AI risks.
• Develop concrete proposals for public-private partnerships, legal cooperation, and asymmetric defence strategies.
• Create or design a strategic roadmap guiding future policy, resource allocation, and targeted interventions.
Target Audience
This training is open to relevant policymakers, law enforcement officials, judicial officers, cybersecurity experts, intelligence analysts, and representatives from civil society organizations and the private sectorfrom the Asia Pacific region, who have been engaged in tasks for sustainable development in line with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Programme Structure and Contents
Timetable
Check-in
Day1
Day2
Day3
Day4
Check-Out
09.15 Mon
09.16 Tue
09.17 Wed
09.18 Thu
09.19 Fri
09.20 Sat
9:30
Arrival
And
hotel check-in (according to individual flight itineraries)
Registration
Day 1 Review
Day 2 Review
Individual Action Plan
Departure
and
hotel check-out (according to
individual
flight itineraries)
10:00
Opening
Remarks
Lecture 3
Lecture 5
10:30
11:00
Lecture 1
Sharing My Action Plan
11:30
Lecture 4
Lecture 6
12:00
Wrap up & Closing Remarks
12:30
Lunch
13:00
Lunch
Lunch
13:30
Lunch
14:00
Lecture 2
14:30
Field Trip (TBD)
Participants' Case Sharing 2
15:00
Field Trip (TBD)
15:30
Participants' Case Sharing 1
16:00
Policy Lab 2
16:30
17:00
Policy Lab 1
17:30
18:00
18:30
Dinner
*The schedule above is subject to change.
*Each session includes a 15-minute break
Contents Detail
*The contents above are subject to change.
Methodology
The workshop consists of:
• Expert-led lectures
• Community/City/Country-level case study sharing
• Group Activities
• Field Trips
Application Process
To apply for the workshop, please complete the official online application form at the link below by the deadline.
Application Deadline: August 14, 2025 (Thursday), 23:59 Korean Standard Time
Official Application Form Link: Click Here
The online form consists of several parts. Please be prepared to:
1. Fill out all required fields for your personal and professional information.
2. Complete the following agreements and descriptions directly within the form:
3. Upload the following documents as files within the form:
Important Notes:
Assistance with Travel Expenses
UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC provides LIMITED financial assistance with airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea, for participants.
The following table represents the maximum amount of financial assistance for round-trip international airfare to Jeju-do, Republic of Korea to participate in the workshop.
Point of departure
Airfare Assistance Limit
Eastern Asia
US$400 (from Mongolia US$650)
South-Eastern Asia
US$550 (from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar US$750)
Southern Asia
US$900 (from Bangladesh US$ 950 and from Nepal US$ 1,050)
Pacific Islands
US$1,300
* Other points of departure – please contact UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC
* Local expenses (transportation between venue and hotel, accommodation, and meals) during the workshop period (only from 16 September-19 September) will be covered by UNITAR CIFAL Jeju/JITC.
**All other expenses (local transportation in their own country, visa fee, local transportation from the airport to the hotel in Jeju before the workshop), including during arrival and departure days, should be covered by the participants.
***If your final airfare is LOWER than the amount stated in the reimbursement table above, UNITAR CIFAL Jeju will ONLY reimburse you the EXACT amount paid.
Event Details
Date, Time, and Venue
Date: September 16 – 19, 2025
Time: 9:30 – 18:30, TBD
Venue: In Person, Jeju International Peace Institute, Jeju Island
Ms. Jiwon SHIN,
Programme Officer
Tel: 82 64 735 6586
Email: jwshin.jitc@gmail.com
[1] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Transnational Organized Crime and the Convergence of Cyber-Enabled Fraud, Underground Banking and Technological Innovation in Southeast Asia: A Shifting Threat Landscape (Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2024), 21.
[2]Ibid., 9.
[3] Olajide Oyadeyi, Oluwadamilola Oyadeyi, and Rofiat Bello, Cybercrime in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Case Study of Commonwealth APAC Countries (London: Commonwealth Secretariat, 2024), 31
[4] UN Women, Placing Gender Equality at the Heart of the Global Digital Compact: Taking Forward the Recommendations of the Sixty-Seventh Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (New York: United Nations, 2024), 8.
[5] Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Submission to the Global Digital Compact (Geneva: United Nations, 2023), 12.