Cybercrime in the Pandemic Digital Age and Beyond (Palgrave Studies in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity)

This edited collection presents current research dealing with crime involving information and communications technologies in the months immediately before, during and following the coronavirus pandemic since 2019. Information and communications technologies played a pivotal role during the pandemic in communicating information across the globe on the risks and responses to the pandemic but also in providing opportunities for various forms of illegality. This volume describes the nature and extent of such illegality, its connection to the pandemic and how digital technologies can assist in solving not only the health crisis but also the associated crime problems. The contributors are established academic scholars and policy practitioners in the fields of cybercrime and computer forensics. This book provides a ready source of content including technological solutions to cybercrime, legal and legislative responses, crime prevention initiatives and policy discussions dealing with the most critical issues present during and following the pandemic. Foreword Acknowledgements Contents Editors and Contributors About the Editors Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction: Crime in the Post-pandemic Digital Age Introduction Research Questions Chapter Outline Learning from the Pandemic Criminological Lessons References 2 Pandemics and Illegal Manipulation of Digital Technologies: Examining Cause and Effect in a Time of COVID-19 Introduction Social Implications of COVID-19 Technological Change and Security Effects Caused by COVID-19 Developments in Cybercrime Recognised During the COVID-19 Pandemic Emerging Technology, Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Implications in a Pandemic Future of Illegal Manipulation of Digital Technologies References 3 Pandemics and Fraud: Learning from the Coronavirus Pandemic and Its Antecedents Introduction Measuring Frauds and ‘the Fraud problem’—from Offline to Online? Digital Fraud in North America Digital Frauds in Europe The United Kingdom The Netherlands Sweden Fraud in Asia–Pacific Hong Kong Australia Cryptocurrencies and Crime Digital Crimes and Policing Procurement Contracts and Lending Frauds Learning for Future Pandemics Discussion Conclusions References 4 The Human Element of Online Consumer Scams Arising from the Coronavirus Pandemic Introduction Scams Are Not a New Form of Crime Categorising Consumer Scams Advance Fee Fraud Non-Delivery and Defective Products and Services Unsolicited and Unwanted Goods and Services Identity Fraud Other Ways to Classify Consumer Fraud The Relationship Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Online Consumer Scams The Rise of Scams During the COVID-19 Pandemic Types of Scams During the Pandemic Theoretical Approaches to Online Consumer Scams Criminological Theories Psychological Theories Individual Differences Theory of Planned Behaviour Stress and Coping Conclusions References 5 State-Sponsored Economic Espionage in Cyberspace: Risks and Preparedness Introduction Remote Work The Importance of Intellectual Property Intellectual Property Crimes Trade Secrets The Passage of the Economic Espionage Act (EEA) in the United States Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 Automation Globalization and Competitiveness Economic Espionage and Cyberspace Preparedness The Case of China Recent Cases of Trade Secret Theft and Economic Espionage in the United States Sample Cases Economic Espionage (18 U.S.C. § 1831) Why Is This Important? References 6 Virtual Kidnapping: Online Scams with ‘Asian Characteristics’ During the Pandemic Introduction What Is Virtual Kidnapping? Virtual Kidnapping and Other Online and Telecommunications Fraud The Role of Emotions on Decision-Making The Evolution of Virtual Kidnapping First Generation: Phone Scams Second Generation: Internet Frauds Third Generation: Targeted Virtual Kidnapping Theoretical Underpinnings Challenges Facing Virtual Kidnapping Investigations Combating Virtual Kidnapping Ways Forward Conclusion References 7 Lessons in a Time of Pestilence: The Relevance of International Cybercrime Conventions to Controlling Post-Pandemic Cybercrime Introduction Lessons from COVID-19 Know Your Enemy: Defining the Problem The Budapest Convention A Question of Sovereignty We’re All in This Together (or Are We?): The Fragile Nature of International Cooperation The Importance of Norms A Model for the Future? Conclusion References 8 Domestic Laws Governing Post-Pandemic Crime and Criminal Justice Introduction The Impact of the Pandemic on Society and the Law New Criminal Laws in Response to the Pandemic New Court Procedures in Response to the Pandemic Conclusion References 9 Perspectives on Policing Post-pandemic Cybercrime Introduction The Phenomenon of Cybercrime Policing Cybercrime The Private Sector and Cybercrime Prevention Metadata Retention in Telecommunications Surveillance Tools Concerns Regarding the Tools of Cybercrime Prevention Getting the Balance Right Is There a Way Through the Maze? Policy Option 1 Policy Option 2 Policy Option 3 Policy Option 4 Policy Option 5 Conclusion References 10 Digital Criminal Courts: The Place or Space of (Post-)pandemic Justice Introduction The Significance of ‘Place’ in Law From Tangible Courtrooms to Disparate Places and Intangible Spaces Place or Space? Discussion and Conclusion References 11 Online Messaging as a Cybercrime Prevention Tool in the Post-pandemic Age Introduction Cybercrime, Opportunity and COVID-19 The Case for Prevention What Makes an Effective Message? Warning Messages as an Online Crime Prevention Tool Victim-Focused Messages Offender-Focused Messages Deploying Messages The Account Holder Internet Search Engine (ISE) Companies Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Third Parties Issues and Opportunities Conclusion References 12 Artificial Intelligence, COVID-19, and Crime: Charting the Origins and Expansion of Dystopian and Utopian Narratives Introduction Methodological Note Artificial Intelligence, COVID-19 and Crime: The Dystopian Narratives Artificial Intelligence, COVID-19 and Crime: The Utopian Narratives Unpacking the AI-crime Nexus in Risky Times: Knowledge Production and the Aftermath of the Crisis Conclusion References 13 Conclusion: Minimizing Crime Risks in Pandemics of the Future Introduction What Did the Pandemic Teach Us About Cyber-Vulnerability? How Have the Authors Addressed These Issues? So, Where to from Here? What Next? In Conclusion References Index