Artificial intelligence now contributes to more than half of cybercrime in Africa, helping criminals launch faster, more sophisticated attacks, according to a new study by the international police organization Interpol. Phishing, online extortion, and identity theft ranked among the most common cybercrimes last year. With more than 1 billion mobile subscriptions, Africa has become an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals, Interpol warns, even though many of the continent’s law enforcement agencies still lack the capacity to combat AI-enabled threats.
Hard Numbers
AI-boosted cybercrime
Natalie Johnson
By Natalie JohnsonAugust 10, 2026
Natalie Johnson
Natalie Johnson is the Deputy Head of Content at GZERO Media and edits the GZERO Daily newsletter. Her career has spanned producing for broadcast cable news at outlets like MSNBC, VICE TV, and NewsNation, as well as writing for digital media. She's also the creator and co-editor of an anthology called "Black Love Letters," published in 2023 through John Legend's GetLifted book imprint. Natalie studied political science at Scripps College and holds a master's degree in sociology from Columbia University.
