Criminal law and criminological threats in the Internet during a pandemic

Abstract

A general description of criminal law and criminological threats on the Internet, which have become particularly common or arose during the pandemic in Ukraine and the world have been analyzed in the scientific paper. It is noted that during this pandemic people began to rely more than ever on computer systems, mobile devices and the Internet for remote working, education, communication, shopping, sharing and receiving information, minimization the influence of the social distancing, etc. Increasing of the number of Internet users and the time spent them online, combined with the feelings of confusion, anxiety and fear has become an enabling environment for criminal activity in the cyber space. The risks associated with the digitalization of health care in Ukraine and abroad have been identified. It is noted, that Interpol has identified three the most common types of cyberattacks at the international level, which affected individuals and legal entities during the pandemic: 1) the functioning of malicious domains; 2) distribution of malicious software; 3) download extortion programs. Phishing and other types of cyber fraud, related to COVID-19, were analyzed. It is emphasized, that the perception of fake information (depending on its content) can lead to the panic spreading among the population, the formation of aggression against certain groups of people and so on. It was determined, that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing of the amount of "screen time" among both adults and children contributed to the intensification of actions aimed at sexual abuse of children on the Internet, cyberbullying, incitement to risky online behavior, distribution of potentially dangerous content. It is stated, that according to experts opinion, the implementation of criminal law and criminological threats on the Internet in 2020 caused losses of more than 1% of world GDP.