Malaysian ministers have urged Asean to look to artificial intelligence (AI) to help combat rampant online fraud by organised crime gangs, which are raking in billions of dollars each year.
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In 2023 alone, cybercrime caused financial losses of up to US$37 billion, making it among the most pressing challenges for the region, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said.
Scam farms – mainly run by Chinese criminals – have gravitated to the Mekong region which borders Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
Speaking on Tuesday, Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution called for the bloc to adopt AI in fighting crime, saying the adoption of the technology by criminal groups “leaves us no choice”.
“We must prioritise upskilling our workforce, mastering these advanced tools, and developing innovative solutions to counter emerging threats,” Saifuddin said.
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Malaysia is the current Asean chair.