NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository
NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository
NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository
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no dominant force. Unlike traditional organised crime models, ethnicity appears to be<br />
neither a barrier nor an advantage. Cybercriminals will make common cause with<br />
anyone where such links are <strong>of</strong> mutual benefit. Age, sex, religion, location, ethnicity all<br />
seem to be irrelevant which could define the world <strong>of</strong> cybercrime as a pure form <strong>of</strong><br />
meritocracy. As the opportunities for qualitative and quantitative expansion occur, the<br />
only barrier to entry will be the skills required. The implications for victims, analysts and<br />
law enforcers could not be more daunting.<br />
<strong>Crime</strong>s such as electronic theft and fraud will occur more rapidly, reducing the likelihood<br />
<strong>of</strong> being caught. Information about how to compromise a system will be available more<br />
quickly and to more people, which means that opportunistic criminals linked into<br />
organised networks <strong>of</strong> will no longer be controlled by organised crime – if indeed they<br />
ever were - and these components will come to dominate and define the ecosystem.<br />
The education and ability <strong>of</strong> criminals to use new technology will also have a major<br />
impact on the nature <strong>of</strong> crime. In cyberspace, we can expect this to be further<br />
magnified. The relationship between the <strong>of</strong>fender and victim may change, as neither<br />
sees the other as a person. The lack <strong>of</strong> such awareness may see online <strong>of</strong>fenders<br />
committing more extreme crimes. Equally, if victims have no contact with the <strong>of</strong>fender,<br />
their attitudes to punishment may change. Whether this will see a reduction in demands<br />
for punishment, or an increase in those for harsher penalties, is not clear. 228<br />
The constraints upon cybercrime are unlikely to be as comprehensive as for some other<br />
forms <strong>of</strong> crime. Whereas narcotics and human trafficking have immense implications for<br />
the welfare and safety <strong>of</strong> vulnerable groups, this is not perceived to be the case with low<br />
level fraud. When identities and credit cards are stolen, the relevant authorities tend to<br />
react quickly to replace and compensate. As such, the resources available to law<br />
enforcement agencies will tend to be channelled into programmes to combat the types<br />
<strong>of</strong> illegal activity that pose the greatest threat to vulnerable groups. Therefore, the<br />
environment in which cybercriminals operate is likely to remain benign and increasingly<br />
attractive to a growing number <strong>of</strong> people, not least from within states and regions where<br />
law enforcement is weak.<br />
228 Davis, R. and K. Pease, (2000), <strong>Crime</strong> Technology and the Future, Security Journal, p.62.<br />
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