Readout of Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco’s Participation in the 2024 Munich Security Conference

Deputy Attorney General (AG) Lisa Monaco traveled to Munich this week to participate in the 60th annual Munich Security Conference (MSC), which brings together leaders from around the world to confront current and emerging threats to our collective, global security. 

The Deputy AG delivered the closing keynote at the Munich Cyber Security Conference, where she highlighted the continuing successes of the Justice Department’s proactive cyber strategy that prioritizes near-term disruptions and victim protection, while tackling the broader ecosystem that supports cyber criminals, including the abuse of crypto-currencies and disruptive technologies. Emphasizing the Department’s commitment to this strategy, she said: “You’re going to continue to see that same tempo of prevention-focused, disruption-focused, victim-centered action, and you're going to see it at the same pace – so stay tuned.”

During the MSC, the Deputy AG met with law enforcement and intelligence counterparts, as well as international thought leaders, to further discuss the warnings she issued in London about the risks posed to global elections this year by nation-state actors’ misuse of disruptive technology — specifically, artificial intelligence (AI). Referencing the work of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, which she launched one year ago to strike back against adversaries trying to steal America’s most advanced technology, she again described AI as the “ultimate disruptive technology” and reiterated her announcement at Oxford University earlier this week that going forward, whenever appropriate, the Justice Department will seek stiffer prison sentences for criminal offenses made significantly more dangerous by the misuse of AI.

Joined at the MSC by Secretary General Tõnis Saar of the Estonian Ministry of Justice, the Deputy Attorney General announced a first-of-its-kind international sharing agreement between the United States and Estonia that will transfer to Ukraine nearly $500,000 in funds confiscated in connection with an illicit Russian procurement network. Those funds will be used to support the people of Ukraine, as they continue to bravely defend themselves against Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion. In signing the agreement, the Deputy AG emphasized that the Justice Department “will continue pursuing creative solutions to ensure the Ukrainian people can respond and rebuild. Dollar by dollar. House by house. Town by town.”

While at the MSC, the Deputy AG also held bilateral meetings with foreign leaders and international law enforcement counterparts, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Sabbar Al-Sudani of Iraq, President Bernardo Arévalo of Guatemala, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna of Estonia, and Secretary General of Interpol Jurgen Stock. In all of her engagements, the Deputy AG reiterated the importance of international partnerships in combating transnational threats, including malign state interference, terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and human smuggling.

###

MSC

MSC

MSC