Paphos university launches AI centre to combat money laundering

Neapolis University Pafos (NUP) on Thursday announced the establishment of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence AI-2-Trace-Crime, a project supported by the European Union.

According to the announcement, this initiative focuses on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the fields of asset recovery, anti-money laundering (AML), and crime prevention.

The university stated that “this significant project has received approval and funding from the European Union, marking an important milestone for NUP and the academic community of Cyprus”.

It added that the “centre aims to become a hub of knowledge, research, teaching, and outreach at the intersection of artificial intelligence and crime prevention within the EU and beyond”.

Moreover, the centre will leverage interdisciplinary expertise from the departments of law, computer science, history, politics, and international studies.

The centre will also promote synergies between European studies and AI research, involving high-level researchers from the three participating NUP departments.

“Redesigned courses related to artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, European law, and criminal law will be introduced,” the announcement stated.

Additionally, the centre plans to develop an asynchronous MOOC (massive open online course) in its research fields to promote open education, along with a specialised training programme for legal and IT professionals.

Furthermore, the centre will produce academic articles, policy papers, and a comprehensive research handbook, contributing to the academic dialogue on AI in crime prevention.

The centre will also host webinars, conferences, and public discussions, and maintain an active online presence to ensure the broad dissemination of its work.

“This initiative not only strengthens NUP academically, but also contributes to global efforts for the effective and ethical use of artificial intelligence in combating crime,” the university concluded.