Taiwan District Prosecutor Harris Chen: Intensive Curricula of Cyber World Education Should be Implemented from High Schools to Colleges

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the judiciary is grappling with the complexities of cybercrime and the elusive role of artificial intelligence. Harris Chen, a seasoned prosecutor at the Chiayi District Prosecutor’s Office in Taiwan, shares his insights on these emerging challenges. With 17 years of experience investigating fraud, human trafficking, and corruption, Chen brings a unique perspective on how human psychology can lead to neglecting threats that aren’t immediately visible.

By: Orhan Hadžagić

a&s Middle East: Despite the growing threat of cybercrime, many of us still don’t see it as “real” because it’s not something they can touch or see. From your experience, what psychological barrier prevents society from fully recognizing the seriousness of digital threats?

Chen: In general, the key psychological barrier is “abstraction”. Humans are wired to respond to tangible, immediate threats — a break-in, a physical assault, something visible. Cybercrime is relatively novel and often invisible until the damage is done, and even then, it might manifest as a drained bank account or leaked personal data, which can feel surreal to the general public. There’s also a dangerous “optimism bias”: people think “it won’t happen to me.” That false sense of digital immunity is what cybercriminals exploit most.

a&s Middle East: How is Taiwanese society addressing public education around cybersecurity? Are there any specific campaigns or strategies you would highlight as successful examples for other countries?

Chen: Taiwan has taken proactive steps, but there’s a long way to go. In Aug. 2022, a new. Government authority Ministry of Digital Affairs, MODA, was established in the top administration. Under MODA, the Agency oy Cyber Security was responsible for cybersecurity affairs in terms of supervising and education. Another example is the “165 Anti-Fraud Hotline”, which the government promotes heavily. It serves both as a reporting mechanism and a public education platform, primarily focusing on cyber fraud. The Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Investigation Bureau have also partnered with influencers and social media platforms to create short, relatable videos on common scams. These efforts show that localized, emotionally resonant storytelling is far more effective than dry warnings. I think intensive curricula of cyber world education should be implemented from high schools to colleges.

Our experience shows that technical capability must be matched with human networks— the speed of a response often depends on relationships, not just protocols.

a&s Middle East: Can you share one or two of the most striking cybercrime cases you’ve handled that might serve as a wake-up call for the public — especially in showing how cyberattacks can affect ordinary people or institutions?

Chen: I was recruited by the Taiwan High Prosecutor’s Office as a project prosecutor to the Supervisory Center for Combating Cybercrime and Fraud in 2022. I was great involved in the initiation of online disruption as DNS RPZ, to timely mitigate illegal online traffic such as piracy, fraud and money laundering. This led to the crackdown of illegal IPTV box “Unblock” in Taiwan in 2023, which was strikingly notable in copyright field. Almost every crime nowadays is cybercrime for lots of criminality information is digitally stored and transmitted via internet.

a&s Middle East: In your daily prosecutorial work, what types of cybercrime do you encounter most frequently?

Chen: My district office is relatively medium, thus each prosecutor handles almost every type of crime, from scams to corruption, and so forth. Financial fraud is the most common — especially phishing, investment scams, and online piracy. We’re also seeing a rise in romance scams and crypto-related fraud. But increasingly, we also deal with digital identity theft and unauthorized access to cloud or platform accounts.

a&s Middle East: Are scams targeting the elderly or social engineering attacks on businesses becoming more dominant?

Chen: Yes, very much so. Elderly people are often targeted because they’re more trusting and may lack digital literacy. But most importantly, they have assets such as savings and real estate that make them fall prey to love scams and invest scams. On the business side, attackers are using business email compromise (BEC) schemes and fake invoices to extract funds. These scams rely not on tech, but on psychology — trust, urgency, fear. That’s why education is critical.

That false sense of digital immunity is what cybercriminals exploit most.

a&s Middle East: As AI tools become more accessible, what kinds of risks do you foresee in the legal and criminal landscape?

Chen: The biggest risk is scalability. AI lowers the cost and barrier of entry to cybercrime. You don’t need to be a skilled hacker anymore. Voice cloning, fake legal documents, deepfakes — these are already being used in fraud. And with generative AI, even the language used in phishing emails is becoming indistinguishably human.

a&s Middle East: How is the judiciary preparing for AI-related offenses such as deepfakes, automated scams, or algorithmic manipulation?

Chen: Taiwan has begun pilot training programs for judges and prosecutors focused on digital forensics and AI-related crime. We are also exploring partnerships with academic institutions to build internal expertise. However, the key challenge is staying ahead of new threats — because the technology evolves faster than training programs. Nevertheless, the preparation to such challenges is still inadequate.

a&s Middle East: Do you see a gap between the speed of technological change and how quickly legislation adapts?

Chen: Absolutely. Law is reactive by nature, while technology is proactive. This lag creates legal grey zones that cybercriminals exploit. For example, there was a time when “ransomware” wasn’t clearly covered under existing extortion laws. Even now, AI-generated content challenges our definitions of authorship, consent, and intent.

a&s Middle East: What can lawmakers and legal institutions do to better keep pace with cybercriminal innovation?

Chen: We need agile legal frameworks — laws that define principles rather than specific tools. For example, defining illegal data manipulation broadly, rather than naming each technology. We also need to integrate technical advisors into legislative teams and encourage sandbox environments for legal experimentation, similar to fintech regulation. Moreover, strengthening regulation with stricter laws on social media platform is the very essential move to combat cybercrime.

a&s Middle East: How can media outlets avoid unintentionally promoting cybercrime, such as by glamorizing hackers or oversharing methods? What role should the press play in responsibly informing the public?

Chen: Media has a responsibility to balance reporting with restraint. Sensationalist headlines like “Mastermind Teen Hacks Millions” glamorize illegal behavior and can inspire copycats. We all know that a lot of crimes start from learning and mimicking. Instead, media should focus on victim impact and systemic solutions Collaborating with cybersecurity experts can also help journalists avoid oversimplifying or unintentionally enabling techniques.

a&s Middle East: What is one misconception about cybercriminals or cybercrime that you wish the public better understood?

Chen: Excellent question. One major misconception is that cybercriminals are lone geniuses in hoodies. Unfortunately, in reality, many operate in well-organized networks, often internationally coordinated. Some even provide “customer service” for ransomware victims. Understanding that this is undoubtedly organized crime — not random — helps people take the threat more seriously.

I think intensive curricula of cyber world education should be implemented from high schools to colleges.

a&s Middle East: How important is international cooperation in fighting cybercrime, especially in cases that cross national borders?

Chen: It’s absolutely essential. Cybercriminals operate across borders with ease — routing attacks through multiple countries, exploiting jurisdictions with weak enforcement, and laundering money through decentralized networks. No single country can fight this alone. International cooperation enables timely evidence sharing, coordinated arrests, and synchronized legal processes. Taiwan, despite not being a UN member state, has proven that even outside formal alliances, proactive diplomacy, legal transparency, reciprocal relationships, and mutual trust can lead to highly effective cross-border enforcement.

a&s Middle East: Are there lessons from Taiwan’s approach that could be useful for global enforcement efforts?

Chen: Yes. Taiwan emphasizes public-private collaboration, agile response teams, and victim-centered policies. One key strength is the National Police Agency’s ability to rapidly coordinate with banks, telecom companies, and cybersecurity firms in real time. Our experience shows that technical capability must be matched with human networks— the speed of a response often depends on relationships, not just protocols.

a&s Middle East: What would be your single most crucial piece of advice to everyday citizens when it comes to protecting themselves in an increasingly digital and AI-integrated world?

Chen: Limit the use of cell phones and practice “intentional skepticism”. Every message, link, or voice you receive — even from someone you know — could be spoofed, deepfaked, or socially engineered. Don’t trust by default. Pause, verify, and only then respond. In a world where AI can convincingly mimic humans, your best defense is to think critically and act cautiously. Awareness isn’t paranoia — it’s solid protection.