Francisco Pardo (D.G. Police): Digital identity has become a key element of security
"In a world where threats are evolving and becoming more sophisticated, digital identity has become a key element of security," stated the Director General of Police at the C1b3rWall Congress, held at the National Police Academy in Ávila.
Pardo also highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Police's Central Cybercrime Unit (CCU).
The Director General of the Police, Francisco Pardo, stressed the importance of innovation in the world of security and the need for a secure digital identity. In this sense, he recalled how "the National Police, with its 201-year history, had as one of its earliest responsibilities the task of verifying the identity of Spanish citizens, issuing the first travel permits and identity cards back then". Two centuries later, "We’ve just launched the DNI app for mobile phones, which next year will also allow everyone to carry their digital certificates on their phones".
Pardo stressed that growing threats strengthen the need to protect our defences and promote new initiatives in this area. He explained, “The Government of Spain has launched a major program, with an investment of €1.157 billion in cybersecurity and defense. In addition, a new regulatory framework is being developed through the Cybersecurity Governance and Coordination Law, and a cooperation model is being promoted that involves public administrations, companies, universities, and research centers—with the National Police actively participating.”
22.3 billion connected devices
The Director General of the Police stressed that: "Prevention is key to effectively fighting cybercrime. Establishing a culture of prevention in our society is essential—especially considering that, in the coming years, there will be more than 22.3 billion internet-connected devices worldwide". He noted that: “We are living in a particularly delicate moment as a global society—a real turning point. I don’t believe there’s ever been a disruptive shift in human history that has brought so many opportunities, but also an equivalent number of risks.”
Within this context, he pointed out that the responsibilities of police forces go well beyond ensuring safety on the streets—they also include ensuring safety in digital environments. In 2024, there were over 100,000 cyberattacks in Spain, and one in five crimes committed in the country was a cybercrime. Additionally, 27% of all online content is illegal or criminal in nature. “This clearly highlights the importance of police work that we cannot do alone, but rather in collaboration with all actors in society, including the military, security forces, tech companies, institutions, and universities and training centres.”
Pardo emphasised the importance of combating the harmful use of new technologies, something the National Police has been doing for 30 years, since the creation of the Central Cybercrime Unit. "Ten years before YouTube, nine before Facebook, eight before LinkedIn, three before Google, and even a year before IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer beat world chess champion Garry Kasparov in a match that stunned us all, the National Police already had a Technology Crimes Group in 1995, made up of five officers. That group became the seed of what is today our powerful Central Cybercrime Unit".