Cybercrime
In Switzerland, the fight against cybercrime is a task that must be carried out in collaboration with all competent partners. The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) handles complex proceedings within its own jurisdiction and supports the cantons as an intermediary and facilitator. In close collaboration with national and international partners, the OAG works to make Switzerland less vulnerable to cyberattacks.
The number of attacks targeting individuals, businesses, critical infrastructures, or systemic organizations is constantly increasing. These acts are becoming more and more complex, both in terms of the methods used and the technologies employed to conceal the identity of the perpetrators.
In terms of criminal prosecution, the OAG is competent only for cases of national importance that have a serial character, a high degree of technical complexity, a marked international dimension, and relate to cybercrime in the strict sense—that is, offenses that can only be committed by means of new technologies and the Internet.
The challenges in criminal prosecution are manifold. Identifying the perpetrators is particularly difficult due to advanced anonymization techniques. The cross-border nature of cybercrime complicates investigations, notably because of the slow pace of international mutual assistance mechanisms. Digital traces, often ephemeral, are complex to collect and analyze. Combating these offenses requires an interdisciplinary approach, at the crossroads of law, technology, and forensic sciences.
Cases under federal jurisdiction—especially, and under certain conditions, ransomware cases—require particularly elaborate investigations, often linked to international networks. The expertise of highly specialized investigators with deep technical skills is an indispensable asset.
Cooperation is an essential factor for success in combating cross-border cybercrime. The key to success lies in the quality, speed, and continuity of exchanges between the various actors involved. The OAG continuously maintains and develops these partnerships to strengthen its effectiveness, whether within the framework of its own proceedings or in its role as coordinator at the national and international levels.