Call for Papers - AI & Cybercrime
Call for Papers
The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is transforming the landscape of cybercrime. From large language models that can generate malicious code to automated systems that enable ransomware, fraud, disinformation, and other illicit activities, AI is reshaping the tools, actors, and strategies at play in digital security. Yet the governance of these technologies, as well as their integration into criminal ecosystems, remains undertheorized and understudied.
This call for papers invites submissions from scholars in political science, international relations, communication studies, information studies, and related fields who are examining the political and governance dimensions of AI-enabled cybercrime. We especially welcome contributions that bridge disciplinary perspectives and methodological approaches, and connect theoretical debates to pressing policy challenges.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
The role of AI-enabled cybercrime in shaping strategic competition, statecraft, and conflict in the international system;
Norms of responsible behavior in cyberspace, including how these are adapting (or failing to adapt) to AI-driven threats;
Analysis of specific applications of AI in cybercriminal activities, including but not limited to ransomware, fraud, influence operations, or deepfakes;
The role of law enforcement or regulation in combating AI-enabled crime;
The role of researchers, journalists or civil society in tracking and countering AI-enabled crime.
Submission Information
We invite abstracts of 250–300 words outlining theoretical frameworks or empirical findings. Full papers are requested by March 29, 2026.
Early-career scholars including PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to submit. Participants will be invited to attend a workshop in Barcelona, Spain on 10 April 2025 to share preliminary findings. Travel support (economy class flights and two hotel nights) is available for lead authors for all accepted participants.
Deadline for abstracts: January 20, 2026
Notification of acceptance: January 31, 2026
Workshop (1 day): 10 April, 2026; Barcelona, Spain.
To submit your paper, please use the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/5NzpVG1hqA3rC5qx7
For any questions, please contact Samantha Bradshaw (American University, Center for Security Innovation & New Technology), Karen Nershi (Middlebury Institute of International Studies), and Kate Munro (American University, Center for Security Innovation & New Technology) at csint@american.edu.
