Crimes committed in and through cyberspace continue to increase in number and severity. Annual economic losses exceed $375 billion with several hundred million individuals and companies falling victim. Yet prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators is rare, encouraging more criminals to engage in this kind of activity. 

As part of the EastWest Institute’s Global Cooperation in Cyberspace Initiative, the EWI Breakthrough Group on Modernizing International Procedures against Cyber-enabled Crimes is working to combat crime and criminals in cyberspace by improving cooperation among law enforcement agencies and with the private sector on a global basis. In 2015, the group has focused on:

1. Increasing the transparency of corporate policies responding to information requests from law enforcement.
2. Promoting a standard format for international information requests under mutual legal assistance procedures.