- Cybercrime is on the rise and affects private individuals, young people and companies with a wide range of offenses.
- Law enforcement agencies are adapting; ongoing technical knowledge and international cooperation are key.
- Confederation and cantons work closely: NEDIK, Cyberboard and KGCy strengthen coordination and information exchange.
- Training is being intensified; cantonal institutions, SPI, universities and colleges offer specialized programs and e‑learning.
Submitted text
Cybercrime continues to increase. The types of offenses are very diverse and range from bullying, child pornography, trafficking in drugs and weapons to professionally organized investment and order fraud. Law enforcement agencies are confronted with major challenges in a rapidly changing environment. In addition to children and young people, ordinary Internet users are now among the victims, as are companies of various sizes. The Federal Council is therefore asked to answer the following questions:
1) How does the Federal Council assess the development of cybercrime and its prosecution in Switzerland?
2. are law enforcement agencies prepared for this development and, in particular, is their training in this area adequate?
3. what can the Federal Council do to improve the fight against cybercrime and its prosecution?
4) What form could cooperation or sharing with the cantons take, including in the area of training for specialized law enforcement agencies?
5. how could the training of law enforcement agencies in the area of cybercrime be improved, if at all?
6 Would a targeted training program under the auspices of the federal government be a possible solution?
Statement of the Federal Council from 22.5.2019
1 / 2 Increasing digitization and the use of digital means of communication are leading to a rise in digital forms of crime. Even classic crime (such as crimes against life and limb) now often includes an electronic component, for example in the form of electronically available evidence. Swiss law enforcement is adapting to the changing conditions. In order to continue to keep pace with developments, special technical knowledge as well as close national and international cooperation with the various partners are of central importance. Continuous training of prosecutors and police is therefore essential. For this reason, law enforcement agencies are placing an emphasis on developing and expanding training. Cf. responses 5/6.
3 / 4 The Federal Council promotes and supports the networking of existing capabilities and resources and the exchange of criminal intelligence between national and international partners. Already today, the law enforcement agencies of the cantons and the Confederation work closely together in the fight against digital crime. The “Network Investigative Support Digital Crime Fighting” (NEDIK), founded by the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders (KKPKS), serves as an operational platform to intensify police cooperation between the cantons and the federal government. Another important instrument is the Cyberboard, where police forces and public prosecutors of the Confederation and the cantons work together. In addition, the new cybersecurity core group (KGCy) decided by the Federal Council and the Federal Council’s cybersecurity committee can coordinate and steer national measures in the event of cyber-related crises.
5 / 6 The training of law enforcement authorities (police and public prosecutors) in digital crime will be successively intensified and adapted to the current needs of law enforcement. Training is primarily the responsibility of the cantons. For example, the Swiss PoIice Institute (SPI) is responsible for establishing and expanding a Switzerland-wide training program against cybercrime. A working group with appropriate specialists has been set up specifically for this purpose. The e‑learning module developed by the SPI, which covers the basics of fighting digital crime, has already been completed by over 15,000 police officers. In the French-speaking cantons, the “Ecole romande de la Magistrature pénale” is entrusted with the training of public prosecutors as a competence center of the “Haute école de gestion Arc” (HE-Arc). Cybercrime is one of the training modules. The HE-Arc also offers training for other law enforcement specialists, including the police. In the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland, the Academy of Public Prosecutors at the University of Lucerne offers similar training for public prosecutors. At the University of Lausanne, there is a master’s in forensics with a course on cybercrime designed for future investigators. In addition, ETHZ and EPFL offer a master’s in cybersecurity. These new offerings fill an important gap in prevention.