A new report from Europol projects a dramatic shift in crime by 2035, where artificial intelligence and robotics will not just aid police, but empower criminals in unprecedented ways. The 48-page “Unmanned Future(s)” document isn’t a prediction, but a “foresight” exercise outlining how near-future technologies could reshape law enforcement.
The agency’s analysis suggests that the proliferation of robots – in homes, hospitals, factories, and even schools – will create new vulnerabilities. One potential scenario involves widespread job displacement leading to civil unrest, where public anger over automation could escalate into “bot-bashing” and anti-technology riots. Beyond social tensions, the report raises the troubling question of how society will treat robots themselves: will damaging or destroying a machine be considered a crime?
However, the most alarming projection is that robots themselves will become perpetrators. Care robots could be hijacked for surveillance, blackmail, or even grooming victims. Autonomous vehicles and drones could be hacked for data theft or weaponized in physical attacks. Terrorists, gangs, and even ordinary criminals might exploit swarms of drones scavenged from conflict zones to carry out attacks, monitor police activity, and gain an operational advantage.
The report doesn’t stop at speculation. It foresees challenges in investigating robotic crime, including the difficulty of determining intent when a machine malfunctions or behaves maliciously. Law enforcement may resort to extreme measures like “RoboFreezer guns” and grenade-laden nets, but the report admits these tactics won’t solve the problem. Robots could infiltrate police facilities to steal data, sabotage operations, or even escape custody.
Europol emphasizes that these scenarios aren’t far-fetched, pointing to existing trends such as drones being used for smuggling (including narco-submarines equipped with Starlink) and a growing black market for drone pilots catering to criminal clients. To keep pace, the agency recommends increased investment in training, technology, and a shift to “3D policing” (leveraging drones for aerial surveillance).
As Europol’s executive director Catherine De Bolle notes: “The integration of unmanned systems into crime is already here, and we have to ask ourselves how criminals and terrorists might use drones and robots some years from now.”
While the Europol report highlights the potential risks, robotics experts are skeptical of the scale and timeline. Some argue that rapid adoption isn’t guaranteed, citing market forces and cost as limiting factors. However, even skeptics agree that criminals will exploit new technologies, necessitating investment in police equipment and training.
Yet, one overlooked aspect is police accountability. Experts warn that the same robotic vulnerabilities exploited by criminals could also be abused by law enforcement for surveillance and misconduct, especially given the rise of authoritarian practices worldwide.
The Europol report serves as a stark warning: the future of crime is unmanned, and society must prepare not just for the threats posed by criminals wielding robots, but also for the potential abuses of power by those sworn to uphold the law.
