AI-driven cybercrime surges as China reports 158% spike in cases

China’s courts have reported a sharp rise in cybercrime, warning that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to enable scams, doxxing, and other online offences.

According to annual work reports presented during the yearly parliamentary gathering known as the Two Sessions, courts across the country concluded 9,326 cases involving crimes endangering cybersecurity over the past five years, marking a 158.5% increase compared with the previous five-year period.

The figures were disclosed by the Supreme People's Court as part of its annual report to lawmakers. Officials said the surge reflects the growing complexity of cybercrime in the country as it is rapidly embracing AI, smart vehicles, and other autonomous technologies.

Authorities highlighted offences ranging from telecom fraud and online rumor-mongering to cyberbullying and doxxing.

On the positive side, the judiciary assured that it had stepped up efforts to prosecute crimes that undermine cybersecurity. Additional data released alongside the report shows the scale of the crackdown, with courts handling more than 9,300 cybersecurity-related criminal cases during the five-year period.

New crimes require new laws

New details emerging from Chinese prosecutors also underline the scale of personal-data abuse tied to cybercrime investigations. In one case cited by prosecutors, suspects were found to have illegally obtained hundreds of millions of records of citizens’ personal data.

Officials use this case as an example of how cybercrime ecosystems have evolved in recent years. Criminal networks are increasingly combining stolen data, anonymous communication tools, and digital currencies to monetize personal information and carry out fraud schemes.

The Chinese judiciary also flagged emerging legal questions linked to advanced technology. In its report, the Supreme People’s Court doubled down on the need to define criminal liability for misconduct involving new technologies.

It highlighted one case where an intoxicated driver was found to be using an AI-assisted driving system, while he dozed off in the passenger seat. Police later discovered the vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road.

“The on-board assisted driving system cannot replace the driver as the primary driving subject,” the court said.

The development echoes broader global security concerns about how generative AI and automation could lower the barrier to entry for cybercrime. Security researchers have warned that AI-powered tools can enable more convincing phishing campaigns, automated fraud, and scalable disinformation operations.

China has already intensified enforcement against cyber-enabled fraud in recent months, as highlighted by Beijing’s increasingly aggressive response to cross-border scam operations. For example, the country has started doling out harsh penalties for operators of online-fraud networks linked to Southeast Asian scam centers.

Unlock more exclusive Cybernews content on YouTube