The European Commission announced that on 11 of January it will take place the official opening of the European Cybercrime Centre established at the European Police Office, Europol in the Hague (the Netherlands). Investigations will focus into online fraud, child abuse online and other cybercrimes that regularly involve hundreds of victims at a time, and suspects in many different parts of the world.

The new European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) will start running to help protect European citizens and businesses from cyber-crime from 11 of January 2013. This day will be celebrated the official opening of the Centre established at the European Police Office, Europol in the Hague (the Netherlands). The European Commission proposed to create an EU Cybercrime Centre in March 2012.

According to the European Commission, the EC3 will focus on illegal online activities carried out by organised crime groups, especially attacks targeting e-banking and other online financial activities, online child sexual exploitation and those crimes that affect the critical infrastructure and information systems in the EU.

Around one million people worldwide fall victim to some form of cybercrime every day. A recent Eurobarometer showed that Europeans remain very concerned about cyber security. 89% of internet users avoid disclosing personal information online, and 12% have already experienced online fraud.