Networked Crime: Does the Digital Make the Difference?

Digital networks have the potential to increase the scope, scale, and severity of social harm, but this book argues that cyberculture is significantly escalating illegality. Matthew David offers fresh insights into online harms and behaviors in hate, obscenity, corruptions of citizenship, and appropriation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 17 July 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

Digital networks have a profound impact on the scope, scale, and severity of social harm. This book explores the question of whether digital affordances for crime, such as access, concealment, evasion, and incitement, are merely new packaging for old problems or if cyberculture is significantly escalating illegality. Matthew David provides valuable insights into online harms and behaviors in various domains, including hate, obscenity, corruption of citizenship, and appropriation. He offers a comprehensive and integrated approach to understanding and addressing cybercrime, making it valuable for both newcomers and experts in the field.

Access to digital networks provides criminals with a vast range of opportunities to engage in illegal activities. With the click of a button, individuals can access a global marketplace, communicate with potential victims, and purchase the tools and resources needed to commit crimes. The anonymity provided by the internet can also facilitate the concealment of criminal activities, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute offenders.

Concealment is another critical digital affordance for crime. The internet allows criminals to hide their identity, location, and activities from law enforcement and other stakeholders. This can be particularly useful for organized crime groups, which can operate with relative impunity due to their ability to conceal their activities and coordinate their operations across borders.

Evasion is another digital affordance that enables criminals to avoid detection and prosecution. The internet provides a platform for criminals to communicate with each other, share information, and plan their activities without fear of being traced. This can be particularly useful for cybercrime, which involves the use of computers and the internet to commit crimes such as identity theft, fraud, and cyberbullying.

Incitement is a digital affordance that can lead to the escalation of social harm. The internet provides a platform for individuals to spread hate speech, misinformation, and propaganda, which can incite violence and discrimination. This can have a particularly devastating impact on vulnerable communities, such as immigrants, minorities, and women.

Overall, digital networks have a significant impact on the scope, scale, and severity of social harm. While it is important to recognize the potential benefits of digital technology, it is also essential to address the risks associated with it. This requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that involves policymakers, law enforcement agencies, technology companies, and the public. By working together, we can mitigate the risks associated with digital networks and create a safer and more inclusive society for all.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529218114