In cybersecurity terms, a “zero-day” attack refers to an exploit that takes advantage of a previously unknown vulnerability in software, hardware, or network systems before developers can issue a patch or fix. These attacks are particularly dangerous because they leave targets defenseless, often leading to severe consequences. The Netflix series Zero Day borrows this terminology to depict a large-scale cyberattack that cripples U.S. infrastructure, exposing the vulnerabilities of modern states in the face of cyber warfare.

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim A. A. Khan, published an op-ed in Digital Front Lines, highlighting the ever-increasing use of cyberspace in modern warfare and denoted the potential for the ICC to prosecute cyber operations as international crimes defined in the Rome Statute.

On 14 June 2023, the European Parliament agreed on their version of the AI Act, and negotiations began with the European Council on the final form of the legislation. The act is expected to be passed into law by the end of 2023, establishing the EU as a leader in creating laws and regulations to address AI-related concerns and challenges.

This report sets out to provide a comprehensive analysis of the tactics employed by the Erdoğan administration to achieve repressive goals abroad and the vulnerabilities and how they are enabled by the AML and CFT regulation in place.