EU looks at tech to bulk up its police agency

June 24, 2026 - 19:46

The European Union is considering a major technological upgrade for its police agency, Europol, according to a draft mandate from the EU executive. The document outlines a need for advanced cloud infrastructure and expanded powers to probe into data, aiming to give the agency more muscle in fighting cross-border crime and terrorism.

The proposal suggests that Europol's current systems are not keeping pace with the volume and complexity of digital evidence. Investigators often struggle to access and analyze data spread across multiple jurisdictions and platforms. To fix this, the draft calls for a dedicated cloud environment that can handle massive datasets securely and allow for real-time collaboration among member states.

Beyond hardware, the mandate pushes for new legal abilities. Specifically, it wants Europol to have broader authority to process large datasets without needing individual case-by-case approval from national authorities. This would include the power to sift through data from social media, encrypted messaging apps, and other online services during ongoing investigations.

Critics have already raised concerns about privacy and oversight. They argue that giving a police agency more data probing powers without clear judicial checks risks creating a surveillance system that could be abused. Supporters, however, counter that the current rules are outdated and that criminals are using technology far more effectively than law enforcement.

The draft mandate is still in its early stages and will likely face amendments from the European Parliament and member states. If approved, it would mark one of the most significant expansions of Europol's technical and investigative capabilities since the agency was founded. The final text is expected to be debated later this year.