At White Hat Conference in Argentina, Cyber Justice at Mega Events Draws Global Focus
The world is ultimately one jumbo-sized community, with common interests and faced by common threats. In some rare moments, this sizable community gathers, for “mega” events, such as the FIFA World Cup, in unified harmony. Unfortunately, however, acts of togetherness like these can mean vulnerabilities, as well. After all, cybercrime does not stop at national borders. Increasingly, neither can the investigations, intelligence networks, legal frameworks, or educational pathways designed to combat it.
That borderless reality shaped the 2026 International White Hat Conference, held June 1 to June 3 in Mendoza, Argentina, where cybersecurity experts, law enforcement leaders, government officials, faculty, students, and practitioners from around the world gathered to strengthen international cooperation in cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, cyber intelligence, and cyber justice. This year’s theme, “Cybersecurity & Digital Crime Prevention: Building Global Readiness for Mega Events,” put its focus on international collaboration in the fight against cybercrime. It was the product of approximately a full year of preparation and close coordination between Boston University Metropolitan College and the government of Mendoza, with Province of Mendoza Minister of Security and Justice Mercedes Rus playing a noteworthy leadership role. This sustained collaboration was essential to the conference’s successful organization and served to strengthen its international focus on cybersecurity and digital crime prevention.
Now in its seventh year, the annual conference drew approximately nine hundred in-person attendees and more than two thousand total registrations, hailing from 48 countries, across in-person and online participants.
For Boston University Metropolitan College Professor of the Practice Kyung-shick Choi, director of BU MET’s Cybercrime Investigation & Cybersecurity programs and founder of the International White Hat Conference, this year’s event reflected both the urgency of today’s cyber threats and the need for sustained international partnership.
“Cybercrime does not recognize borders, and no country, agency, or profession can fight it alone,” Dr. Choi said. “We need law, technology, investigation, policy, and international cooperation. Most importantly, we need people who are committed to justice.”
Global Threat, Global Response
On May 29, ahead of the formal event, representatives from the conference visited Argentina’s National Congress for a meeting that focused on international cooperation in digital security. An opportunity for stakeholders from government, academia, and law enforcement to exchange insights on the challenges posed by emerging technologies, the discussion explored strategies for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting digital crimes.
“These spaces for dialogue and cooperation are essential to strengthening institutional capacity, promoting specialized training, and connecting Argentina with international best practices in a field that continues to evolve rapidly,” Dr. Choi said.
A visit with INTERPOL representatives, graciously coordinated by Argentinean colleague Dr. Rafael Garcia Borda, walked participants through the agency’s Cultural Heritage Crime initiatives, which include efforts to recover stolen artwork and national treasures. A reflection of the range and complexity of modern international investigations, the visit illustrated an important theme of the conference: whether protecting digital systems, financial networks, cultural assets, or vulnerable communities, investigators must be prepared to follow evidence across jurisdictions, disciplines, and technologies.
The care put into both the pre-conference visits and the event itself impressed BU MET Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Lou Chitkushev.
“This year’s White Hat Conference benefited from impeccable organization by the host Government of Argentina and the Province of Mendoza, with strong support from Argentina’s cybercrime law enforcement ecosystem,” Dr. Chitkushev said.
Ten Hours, 33 Teams, Real-World Stakes
Applied, hands-on learning is fundamental to the Metropolitan College ethos, and nowhere was that on better display than at the 2026 Cybercrime Investigation Challenge.
On June 1, 33 international, multidisciplinary White Hat teams—with roughly one hundred participants drawn from law enforcement agencies, prosecutorial offices, government security organizations, specialized cybercrime and digital forensics units, and universities—began what would become a 10-hour investigative competition in Mendoza.
Dr. Sinchul Back, director of cybercrime and cybersecurity studies at the University of Scranton’s Center for the Analysis and Prevention of Crime (CAPoC), and University of Scranton faculty member Dr. Mike Toro jointly supervised the competition, providing both leadership and coordination while being indispensable to its successful execution.
From 2 pm until midnight, teams worked through complex cybercrime scenarios involving AI deepfakes, IoT forensics, cryptocurrency tracing, intelligence analysis, and legal reasoning.
Not only did the competitors demonstrate their technical skill; they also had to lean on critical thinking, teamwork, investigative reasoning, and legal analysis—the same mix of skills required in real-world cybercrime investigations. “It was inspiring to see students and professionals from around the world working together to address real-world cybercrime challenges,” Dr. Choi said.
The contest reflected the event’s international flair. While most teams were from the host country of Argentina, additional participants represented the United States and Hungary. Academic institutions included Boston University, the University of Scranton, Universidad Tecnológica Nacional–Mendoza, and Universidad Champagnat.
Argentina’s own San Juan Más Seguro earned first place; another Argentinian squad, Mandubí, took home second place; and earning third place was the Boston University Terriers.
A student paper competition recognized emerging scholarship in the field by highlighting original research from students preparing to enter or advance in cybercrime investigation, cybersecurity, and cyber justice. BU’s Matthew Stern won first place in the event, followed by Emaediong Akpan of Virginia Tech in second place, and BU’s Chanwoo Shin in third.
Together, the competitions emphasized something fundamental to the field: effective cybercrime response requires both practical investigative capability and rigorous research. As emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and IoT devices reshape the threat landscape, cyber professionals must understand not only how crimes are committed, but how evidence is generated, preserved, analyzed, and presented—by engaging in these competitions, all participants put those much-needed skills to the test.
An Interdisciplinary Envoy
The 2026 White Hat Conference also showcased an essential aspect of Boston University’s approach to cybercrime, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and cyber intelligence: its interdisciplinary nature.
According to Dr. Chitkushev, this was the first White Hat Conference at which Boston University was represented in a truly interdisciplinary manner, thanks to the presence of leading faculty from three major academic domains. There was Dr. Choi, representing cybercrime investigation and criminal justice; Professor Irena Vodenska, whose specialization in AI-based financial fraud detection and risk analytics represented the business and management field; and Dr. Chitkushev, who was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) Oversight Council for his expertise in the intersection of technology and healthcare, representing digital and cyber forensics within computer science.
After all, cybercrime is not merely limited to a single field. It is as much a computer science problem as it is a criminal justice problem, a financial crime problem, an intelligence problem, a legal problem, and a policy problem. Investigations increasingly require professionals who can move across those boundaries and collaborate with experts from different sectors.
For Dr. Chitkushev, Metropolitan College’s presence in Argentina reflected “the significant, sustained, and pioneering investments that Boston University and MET have made in cybersecurity education, research, and faculty development over the past two decades.” Those efforts include long-running efforts in training, research, and workforce-development initiatives supported by organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense. He traced the area of study’s lineage at the College back to earlier aligned efforts between he and Dean Tanya Zlateva alongside colleagues from BU’s College of Arts & Sciences, College of Engineering, and Questrom School of Business to establish the Center for Reliable Information Systems and Cyber Security.
“These investments have contributed substantially to BU’s leadership and reputation in cybersecurity, digital forensics, cybercrime investigation, and related interdisciplinary fields,” Dr. Chitkushev said.
Preparing the Next Generation of Cybercrime Investigators
As Dr. Choi sees it, the most valuable aspect of White Hat Conference is the significant opportunity it presents to prepare tomorrow’s cybercrime investigators, cybersecurity professionals, and intelligence leaders. It also underscores the importance of BU MET’s world-class cybersecurity programs—including the soon-to-debut Master of Science in Cybercrime Investigation & Intelligence.
Launching fall 2026, the new Cybercrime Investigation & Intelligence master’s is an expansion of the College’s commitment to preparing professionals for an emerging workforce area driven by growing reliance on cyber-enabled systems across government, military, and private sectors.
The eight-course, 32-unit program is designed to be completed in 8–16 months, with a curriculum that integrates cybercriminology, cyberterrorism and cyber defense, cybersecurity fundamentals, and cybercrime investigation. Students may tailor their education with electives in areas such as cryptocurrency investigation and blockchain forensics, financial crimes in the digital age, IoT device forensics, enterprise cybersecurity management, digital forensics, mobile forensics and security, and AI and cybersecurity.
The new degree, like the conference itself, is emblematic of the need for professionals who can combine technical expertise with investigative skill, intelligence analysis, legal and ethical judgment, and global perspective.
“As cybercrime continues to cross borders, sectors, and disciplines, the White Hat Conference reflects our shared responsibility to prepare the next generation of cybercrime investigators, cybersecurity professionals, and intelligence leaders,” Dr. Choi said. “This mission is also at the heart of our new Master of Science in Cybercrime Investigation and Intelligence program.”
Toward World Safety, Online and Off
By the time the conference concluded on June 3, the gathering had offered more than a forum for presentations and competitions. It had reinforced the importance of personal relationships, institutional partnerships, and shared responsibility in the global fight against cybercrime.
As it has every year since its inception, the event drew strong and comprehensive government support. Federal, provincial, and local public-sector institutions actively participated, including the Argentine Federal Police, airport security police, Gendarmerie, the Federal Penitentiary Service, provincial ministries of security, public prosecutors’ offices, and specialized investigative units across Argentina.
“This broad institutional engagement reflected a shared national commitment to advancing cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, cybersecurity, and international collaboration,” Dr. Choi attested.
The closing ceremony celebrated the achievements of the White Hat teams and student researchers, while also recognizing the leadership and hospitality of Mendoza. Dr. Choi offered special thanks to Dr. Rafael García Borda and Minister Mercedes Rus for their support in helping make this year a success.
“Over the past three days, participants exchanged knowledge, strengthened international cooperation, and witnessed the true engine of Mendoza: the heart of its people and the heart of its leadership,” Dr. Choi said.
After recently being held in South Korea and Spain, the International White Hat Conference’s global reach is only growing. That’s because as countries increasingly recognize that the line distinguishing real-world and online threats has been effectively erased, it is apparent that in a real sense national security is tethered to cybersecurity. To that end, the conference’s next chapter is already taking shape, as in 2027 it is expected to convene in Mexico, continuing its movement across countries and regions in pursuit of a greater global cybersecurity—whether for mega events or everyday ones.
“Through the White Hat Conference, we continue to pursue our mission of world cyber peace, one nation at a time,” Dr. Choi said. “Together, we can build a safer cyber world.”
To watch Day 1 of the 2026 International White Hat Conference, visit this link.
To see Day 2, visit this link.