The Internet and its Opportunities for Cybercrime – Interpersonal Cybercrime

Abstract

With the advancement in technology, computers and the internet are easily accessible to the masses. It has made it easier for people to keep in touch across long distances and have also provided a platform to collaborate for purposes related to business, education, and culture. However, this free flow of information has given rise to irresponsible behavior online. It is used not only for the benefit of individuals but also exposes them to numerous crimes that are being committed online. It is the duty and responsibility of the legal systems to keep pace with the same and to ensure that such technologies do not become tools of exploitation and harassment. Through World Wide Web, user can circulate images, text, videos, and sounds. Websites provide a plethora of opportunities to the individuals. However, they are also used to circulate offensive content such as child sexual abuse, hate speech, and defamation. The intellectual property rights of authors and artists are also violated through the unauthorized circulation of their works. Internet provides the convenient shield of anonymity and fake identities. Errant persons become more emboldened in their offensive behavior if they think that they will not face any consequences. Those who post personal information about themselves on job and marriage websites or social networking websites are often at the receiving end of ‘cyber-stalking’. Women and minors who post their contact details become especially vulnerable since lumpen elements such as sex-offenders can use this information to target potential victims. Digital unlawful acts perpetrated against persons incorporate different law violations like the transmission of child pornography, person harassment utilizing computer, and others. The trafficking, posting, appropriation, and spread of revolting material including erotica and foul presentation, constitutes a standout amongst the most vital cyber law violations known today. The technological advancement has made the world a global village. There are virtually no boundaries in this Global village and the distance between places and people has been reduced to a mere nothing. This has influenced the phenomenon of globalization, which has created an impact on the socio-economic and the cultural texture of the society. Thus, the information technology has become a boon to the human community, but this paradigm-shift in the human being all over is also reflected in the area of crime, as along with the positives there is a wide spectrum of negatives which has become a cause of worry because the negative facets are being efficiently utilized by the sadistic minds of the society for committing crimes in the virtual environment called the Cyber Crimes.