Introduction
Cybercrime refers to criminal activity that uses digital tools to commit illegal acts. These include fraud via email or text messages, identity theft, theft of sensitive data such as credit card details and internal company information, ransomware attacks, cyber espionage and the production of child pornography. Cybercrime is growing exponentially due to the unlawful use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
In 2025, the Postal Police handled more than
50,000 cases of cybercrime. The National Cybercrime Centre detected
more than 9,000 cyberattacks of national interest in 2025 and issued 49,000 crime prevention alerts. In economic terms, cybercrime resulted in a loss of €275 million for businesses, with 27,000
cases handled by the Postal Police in Italy.
CYBERBULLYING
INCIDENTS
INCIDENTS
The majority of teenagers are victims of persistent online harassment on a recurring basis.
CYBERSTALKING
INCIDENTS
INCIDENTS
Stalking takes on a new dimension online, becoming even more invasive and relentless for victims.
CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE MATERIAL
ABUSE MATERIAL
Children are increasingly exposed to and victimized by sexually explicit content online.
Cyberbullying as an extension of offline bullying
One of the most common online crimes affecting young people is cyberbullying.
This crime involves aggression, harassment, blackmail or the misuse of personal data via social media or other digital platforms.
In such situations, the victim not only suffers insults but is also humiliated by the publication of videos or images documenting the assault they have suffered in real life. According to Istat, in 2023, 68.5% of teenagers were victims of offensive and violent behaviour both offline and online; for 21%, this took the form of ongoing behaviour involving threats or physical assaults, social exclusion and defamation.
Cyberstalking: women are at greater risk
Cyberstalking is a form of harassment and persecution that is sustained over time and carried out using digital tools. It is an act perpetrated from a distance that drastically curtails the victim’s freedom and security, causing feelings of fear and distress. This unlawful act is also present in cyberbullying, where perpetrators interact with and obsessively threaten the victim online.
The most effective defence is to cut off all communication immediately, ensuring that no information is provided to the attacker. It is essential to combine this with technical measures, such as two-factor authentication (MFA) and regular reviews of privacy settings, thereby reducing the effectiveness of manipulation and actively protecting one’s digital identity
The high prevalence of child pornography
Child pornography consists of videos or images depicting minors engaged in explicit sexual acts. Such material is distributed and sold online to paedophiles and is often linked to cases of sexual abuse.
According to research by the IWF, in 2022, content depicting the sexual abuse of a child appeared online every two minutes. Furthermore, girls, particularly pre-teens aged between 10 and 13, were the main subjects of this content. In some cases, the victims were infants. In the same year
in Italy, 2,622 cases of online child pornography were recorded, the content of which was subsequently blocked by the Postal Police.
Let’s defend humanity
in the digital age
in the digital age
We are building collaborative and innovative approaches to
protect those in need
/ CYBER NEWS