In a 48-page report, Europe’s police agency Europol outlines a bleak but “plausible” vision of Europe over the next decade, warning of social tensions and emerging security threats driven by rapid automation. The report sketches scenarios in which humans and robots coexist in everyday life — but not always peacefully.
According to Europol, robots are expected to become a routine part of daily life, delivering parcels, cleaning transport hubs and moving silently through shopping centres. In deprived urban areas with high unemployment, however, “displaced workers” could react violently, staging protests and attacking robots, the report says.
Europol highlights the risk that hackers could gain access to social-care robots used to assist vulnerable adults or children, allowing them to harvest information or even manipulate victims. At the same time, terrorist groups could exploit technology developed during the war in Ukraine to carry out attacks using small drones against electricity and water infrastructure.
The agency notes that drug cartels and extremist groups are already training in the use of low-cost drones, while police forces in countries including Britain and Belgium have begun deploying net guns and laser weapons to counter them.
Human-robot cooperation in law enforcement is described as “critical”, particularly in search-and-rescue operations, investigations and evidence collection. However, routine tasks such as patrols or traffic management could become automated, potentially triggering resentment even within security services.
Some experts have dismissed the scenarios as exaggerated. Dennis Niezgoda of Locus Robotics pointed to technical and regulatory barriers, arguing that automation does not eliminate jobs but instead addresses labour shortages in difficult and dangerous roles.
A Europol spokesperson stressed that the agency is “not predicting the future” but aims to help authorities make more informed decisions today.
