Global Scans · Crime · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Crime is morphing away from traditional methods to more sophisticated technological approaches. A decline of traditional hierarchical criminal groups and networks will be accompanied by the expansion of a virtual criminal underground made up of individual criminal entrepreneurs. At the same time, forward-looking agencies are equipping themselves with smart technologies to outfox the criminals. Keep up to date with crime changes below.

• [New] The continued rise of ideologically motivated extremism, driven largely by lone actors and fringe political movements, will become a major theme in defining the global terrorism risk landscape in 2026. WTW
• [New] Generative AI has emerged as the most significant disruptive force in 2026, acting as both a weapon for sophisticated criminal networks and a shield for compliance professionals. Anaptyss Inc.
• [New] Terrorist groups are adapting fast, learning from each other and exploiting global vulnerabilities. WTW
• [New] Under current circumstances, terrorist attacks in Israel bring substantial risk and may backfire. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
• [New] In addition to provoking renewed war with Israel, terrorist attacks could unify Israelis. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
• [New] A terrorist campaign against Israeli targets abroad would entail risks for Hamas. Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
• [New] Perhaps the most consequential shift in the 2026 terrorism landscape will be the degradation of global intelligence-sharing. WTW
• [New] Terrorism will remain the preeminent national security threat to most countries throughout 2026. RSIS_NTU
• [New] The United States maintains a network of permanent and rotational military bases across the Middle East to secure oil routes, protect allies, counter terrorism, and deter Iran and other regional threats under the US Central Command (CENTCOM) framework. INSIGHTS IAS - Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation
• [New] In the Western Hemisphere, U.S. military operations targeting transnational criminal groups could escalate to direct action in Venezuela. Visual Capitalist
• [New] Russia's new VPN regulation does not impose a full ban but significantly raises risks for users by introducing fines for advertising VPNs, expanding criminal liability, and adding VPN use as an aggravating circumstance in prosecutions. Nature
• [New] The Federal Government has explained that Nigeria's removal from the European Union's list of high-risk jurisdictions for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism will lead to the easing of compliance requirements on financial transactions between Nigeria and EU member states. The Nation Newspaper
• [New] We expect 2026 to bring deeper cooperation between the FCA and bodies like the National Crime Agency to disrupt criminal networks. Browne Jacobson LLP
• [New] The SEC's no-action letters for tokenization pilots and the Wolfsberg Group's guidance on managing crypto risks demonstrate a willingness to support innovation while safeguarding against financial crime as regulatory updates indicate. Ainvest
• [New] Reasoning AI entered enterprise production, with banks like Morgan Stanley deploying fine-tuned LLMs for compliance, risk, and decision support, reducing false positives in financial crime detection. Rajesh Jain
• [New] As financial crime risks grow more complex, geopolitical instability reshapes exposure profiles, and enforcement actions continue to make headlines, 2026 is emerging as a defining year for Know Your Customer and customer due diligence. FinExtra
• [New] Europol has been explicit about AI accelerating and scaling organised crime, including online fraud and cyber operations, and warns about increasingly autonomous capabilities. EM360Tech
• [New] Trump's loose use of the term Antifa as a catch-all label for Americans engaging in protest activity creates the risk that the new designation of FTOs could be used to justify criminal investigations. Lawfare
• [New] Going into 2026, turning the tide on retail crime will require a collective effort. Retail News & More
• [New] From the fusion of cyber and financial crime risks to the intensifying demands of sanctions compliance, global regulatory expectations are accelerating, and the cost of falling behind is rising. Global Compliance Institute

Last updated: 24 January 2026