Internal affairs - Cybercrimes reached a peak in Lower Saxony.
Cybercrime in Lower Saxony saw a significant increase last year with a total of 13,218 cases, up from the previous year by close to 1,000, as announced by the Interior Ministry in Hanover on Monday. This marks a new record high, according to Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD).
Over the past five years, cybercrime cases have been on the rise by approximately 40%. In 2023, there were around 3,400 suspects under investigation, a 200-person increase from the previous year. Behrens highlighted that criminals who operate within and through networks pose a growing threat not only to private individuals and companies but also to state institutions and their critical infrastructures.
Examples of cybercrime include fraud attempts that are sent via email instead of post. These attacks commonly target computer systems and networks.
The Interior Ministry also shared information about child pornography incidents. There were 6,855 instances of distributing, acquiring, possessing, and producing child pornographic materials reported in Lower Saxony in 2023, which is around 2,150 more than in 2022. The ministry attributed the increase to heightened awareness among the population and network operators.
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- In response to the escalating issue of cybercrime, Daniela Behrens, the Interior Minister of Lower Saxony and a SPD member, outlined a domestic policy focus at the Ministry of the Interior in Hanover.
- The SPD-led Ministry of the Interior in Hanover has identified cybercrime as a top concern at the highest level of domestic policy, following a 40% increase in reported cases over the past five years.
- To combat cybercrime, Behrens emphasized the threat posed by criminals who operate in and through networks, targeting both private individuals and companies as well as state institutions and critical infrastructures.
- The SPD-led Ministry of the Interior in Lower Saxony, including Behrens, has acknowledged the rise in child pornography incidents, with 6,855 instances reported in 2023—a 2,150 increase from the previous year—attributing the increase to heightened awareness among the population and network operators.
