New Cognyte Report Examines How Gen Z & Alpha Are Reshaping Crime

Key Terms

digital forensics technical

Digital forensics is the process of collecting, preserving and analyzing electronic evidence from computers, phones or networks to understand what happened during a breach, fraud or other cyber incident. Think of it as a detective examining a crime scene but for digital devices; it helps pinpoint the cause, scope and timeline of an event. Investors care because findings affect a company’s legal exposure, repair costs, regulatory penalties and public trust, all of which can change the value of an investment.

fusion centers technical

A fusion center is a centralized information hub where government agencies, emergency services and private partners share and analyze data to spot public-safety, national-security or infrastructure risks. Think of it like a neighborhood watch room that brings together camera feeds, reports and alerts so authorities can detect patterns and respond faster. For investors, fusion centers matter because they shape government spending, contracting opportunities, regulatory oversight and the risk profile for companies that handle critical infrastructure, data or security services.

homeland security regulatory

Homeland security is the set of government activities, agencies and policies designed to protect a country from threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks, natural disasters and border incidents. It matters to investors because shifts in spending, regulation or threat levels can change demand for sectors like defense, cybersecurity, transportation and infrastructure; think of it like a national alarm and safety plan—when it changes, it can reshape which companies get business and how risky markets feel.

deepfakes technical

Deepfakes are audio, video or image content created or altered by artificial intelligence to make people appear to say, do, or be somewhere they did not. They matter to investors because a convincing fake can trigger sudden market moves, enable fraud, manipulate sentiment, or harm a company’s reputation—similar to a counterfeit document or forged signature sparking real financial consequences and regulatory scrutiny.

influence campaigns technical

Coordinated efforts by individuals or groups to shape opinions, attitudes or behavior about a company, product or market using media, social networks or other channels. Like a staged chorus repeating the same message, these campaigns can change public perception, customer behavior or trading activity and so may affect a company’s sales, reputation and stock price. Investors watch for them because they can create sudden, artificial swings in value or invite regulatory scrutiny.

HERZLIYA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cognyte Software Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGNT) (“Cognyte”), a global leader in software-driven technology for investigative analytics, today announced the availability of a new threat trends report, “Crime Goes Digital Native: The Impact of Gen Z & Alpha on Law Enforcement.”

WHAT: “Crime Goes Digital Native” shows how the next generations – Gen Z, Gen Alpha and soon Gen Beta – are rapidly reshaping the nature of crime and public safety.

WHO: The report will be useful for the following readers:

• Law enforcement leaders and investigators
• Cybercrime, digital forensics and intelligence units
• Public safety agencies and fusion centers
• Homeland security, justice and regulatory officials
• Policymakers focused on tech, youth behavior and public safety
• Schools, universities and campus security teams
• Child protection and youth-focused organizations
• Trust & safety, security and compliance teams at tech platforms
• Social media, gaming and AI companies
• Researchers studying crime, youth behavior or digital ecosystems

WHERE: The report is available for download here.

WHY: Gen Z and Gen Alpha – and soon Gen Beta – are not just “kids online.” They are AI-fluent, toggling between platforms and spending time in digital spaces that are difficult for law enforcement to monitor, from encrypted group chats to gaming worlds and disappearing DMs. While regulators are still trying to keep pace with crypto crime, deepfakes and rapidly evolving online platforms, younger users are already creating new norms that speed up how scams, influence campaigns and emerging threats take hold.

This is not simply a cultural shift; it is a structural one, changing how crimes occur and pushing law enforcement to rethink investigations, prevention and digital preparedness. The report offers a clear, timely view of that shift – and why agencies need to adjust now.

About Cognyte
Cognyte is a leading software-driven technology company, focused on solutions for data processing and investigative analytics that allow customers to generate Actionable Intelligence for a Safer World™. Cognyte’s solutions empower law enforcement, national security, national and military intelligence agencies, and other organizations to navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape. With offerings that leverage state-of-the-art technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data analytics and advanced machine learning, Cognyte helps customers make smarter, faster decisions with their data for successful outcomes. Hundreds of customers rely on Cognyte’s investigative analytics solutions to uncover critical insights from past events and anticipate emerging threats. By harnessing AI-driven intelligence, Cognyte accelerates investigations with exceptional speed and accuracy while enabling customers to better investigate, anticipate, predict and mitigate risks with greater precision. Learn more at www.cognyte.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251218318551/en/

Media Relations Contact:

Michelle Allard McMahon

Rainier Communications on behalf of Cognyte Software

prcognyte@rainierco.com

Source: Cognyte Software Ltd.