Tech Platforms Urged to Strengthen Anti-Scam Measures, Says ING CTO

In a recent interview, Daniele Tonella, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ING Groep N.V., emphasized the urgent need for technology platforms to enhance their efforts in combating online scams. This statement comes against the backdrop of rising concerns over the effectiveness of current measures in the face of sophisticated deceit techniques, particularly deep fakes and impersonation scams.

Tonella's remarks were made during an interview with The Banker on June 27, 2025, where he shared a concerning incident involving an ING employee who received a voicemail that appeared to be from Steven van Rijswijk, the Chief Executive Officer of ING. This incident, which Tonella referred to as a "good learning moment," highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with communication technology. He stated, "I imagine that these providers have more information about who is trying to reach out to whom. But today, I don’t have the impression that this is really very actively taken care of. All of these communication intermediaries probably need to evolve."

The CTO's comments reflect a growing trend in the financial sector, where institutions are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals leveraging advanced technologies. According to a report by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) published in April 2023, online scams have surged by 35% over the past year, with deep fakes becoming a prominent tool for fraudsters. This alarming statistic underscores the pressing need for tech companies to implement robust verification systems and improve their monitoring capabilities.

Tonella also addressed the broader implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in technology development, cautioning against the hype surrounding its capabilities. He remarked, "While acknowledging that huge value and impact can be derived from AI, it’s not as big as it seems when you hear the declarations." His comments came in light of a recent internal incident at ING where an AI co-pilot failed to detect a bug in the system due to the complexity of the code deployment. This highlights the limitations of current AI applications, especially in critical areas like software engineering.

Moreover, Tonella discussed the geopolitical risks related to public cloud services, referencing the uncertainties created by previous administrations regarding the stability of such services. He noted, "It’s not that we can’t have this product or the service provider, but it’s more about how we protect our data, and how do we protect our agility and ability to move around." This perspective aligns with findings from a 2023 report by the World Economic Forum, which warned that geopolitical tensions could disrupt global supply chains for digital services.

In a separate interview with Fintech Finance News, Tonella elaborated on his responsibilities leading ING’s engineering team of 20,000, emphasizing the delicate balance between immediate operational needs and long-term innovation strategies. He stated, "We are a very entrepreneurial bank that wants to go very fast, but in tech, if you go too fast without thinking long-term, you end up building up technical debt and future issues." This insight reflects the challenges faced by large organizations in managing technological growth while maintaining sustainable practices.

In summary, Daniele Tonella’s insights shed light on the critical need for technology platforms to step up their anti-scam efforts amid a landscape increasingly dominated by sophisticated fraud techniques. As the financial sector navigates these challenges, the call for enhanced collaboration between tech firms and financial institutions becomes increasingly imperative to safeguard users and maintain trust in digital communication systems. The implications of these developments will likely resonate across multiple industries as the intersection of technology and security continues to evolve.