Portugal: Missão Cibersegura

Missão Cibersegura (Cybersecure Mission) is a large-scale cybercrime prevention initiative led by Polícia Judiciária (PJ), Portugal’s national criminal police. Launched in mid-2024, the project represents a significant shift in PJ’s approach to crime prevention, aiming to modernise its engagement with younger generations and educators through gamification and therefore provide a unified nationwide response. Recognising the increasing exposure of minors to cybercrime risks, including online frauds, both as victims and, at times, as potential offenders, PJ – through its Cybercrime National Unit (UNC3T) and Innovation Directorate (DS-ID) – developed a pioneer strategy to scale up the impact of the RAYUELA videogame at national level. The objective is to not only educate youth on digital safety, but also to empower teachers, gather data on cybercrime phenomena, and ultimately sustain targeted prevention strategies and educational policies. The initiative combines law enforcement, education, and scientific research in a unique and innovative hybrid model of crime prevention.

The ECPA jury offered a strongly positive assessment of Portugal’s “Missão Cibersegura” initiative. Although gamification itself is not new, they highlighted the project’s innovative, large-scale application, noting that its success lies not just in creating a well-designed cybersecurity game but in embedding it within a national strategy and motivating young people to actively engage with it. This approach moves beyond traditional awareness-raising, making learning interactive, appealing, and relevant. The jury commended the project’s broad cooperation, with academic partners involved throughout design, research, and implementation. This evidence-based foundation contributed to the initiative’s credibility and quality. They were particularly impressed by the programme’s exceptional reach, demonstrating its ability to connect with large numbers of young people across the country. Regarding transferability, the jury judged that while the game itself can be replicated, achieving similar nationwide reach would be more challenging. Success depends heavily on a centralised strategic framework and the active engagement of the education sector—factors that may not be present elsewhere. Finally, the jury noted that the project’s long-term impact remains an open question, but its coordinated, research-informed approach positions it as a promising and influential model for youth-focused cybersecurity education.