Dear Visitors,

Welcome to the China Unicom – City University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Intelligent Anti-Fraud Technologies!

Telecommunication and cyber fraud are among the most pressing challenges in today’s digital society. Our vision is to foster a trustworthy, fraud-free digital world by integrating the research expertise of academia, the transformation capabilities of industry, and the adoption efficiency of government agencies.

The mission of our laboratory originated from a collaborative anti-fraud initiative between China Unicom Global and City University of Hong Kong in 2023. Since then, our work has garnered widespread attention, support, and recognition across sectors. Our mission remains steadfast: to develop innovative and effective fraud governance technologies and social intervention strategies through interdisciplinary approaches—combining artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and social science—to enhance society’s overall capacity to combat fraud, protect public assets, and uphold social trust.

In the field of intelligent anti-fraud, our laboratory focuses on the integration of cutting-edge technologies with real-world applications. Our core goals include: gaining a deep understanding of the socio-psychological mechanisms behind fraudulent behavior; developing precise and efficient fraud risk detection and early warning systems; establishing data-driven frameworks for social governance and policy recommendations; and promoting the industrialization and societal application of our research outcomes to truly empower public safety through technology.

A defining feature of our laboratory is its strong interdisciplinary foundation. The lab’s founding members hail from the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong, a department that brings together expertise from psychology, sociology, communication studies, computer engineering, and media practice. Unlike traditional academic research units, our lab is driven by the goal of real-world impact—pursuing both theoretical and technical breakthroughs while working closely with industry to translate research into practical anti-fraud solutions and tools.

We are proud to serve as an open and inclusive platform. To date, we have welcomed a diverse team of talents with both local insight and global perspective, including senior scholars, technical experts, industry leaders, and international research collaborators. Our work is generously supported by China Unicom Group, which has pledged no less than HKD 10 million over five years. We are also grateful for the continued engagement and assistance from the Hong Kong Police Force, local communities, and various institutions, which have made our anti-fraud initiatives more responsive to societal needs and more impactful in practice.

Looking ahead, while the initial funding period spans five years, I sincerely hope we can realize the laboratory’s vision in a shorter time frame. However, we also recognize that as digitalization accelerates across all aspects of life, fraud will remain a long-term issue. Therefore, sustained investment and continuous innovation are essential. We warmly invite scholars, industry partners, and members of the public to join us in this endeavor, and to work together toward building a safer and more trustworthy digital world.

Finally, on behalf of the laboratory, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, academic colleagues, and friends from all walks of life who have supported our work. Let us continue working together to create a safer, more trustworthy, and better future.

Prof. Xiaofan Liu
Director
Email: xf.liu@cityu.edu.hk