cybercrime - crim 225

Cybercrime (Definition)

Criminal activities that occur over the Internet and involve computers or electronic devices, including identity theft, cyberterrorism, and online fraud.

Internet/Online Theft

The most common form of cybercrime, involving the theft of sensitive information or financial resources online.

Identity Theft

Unauthorized acquisition of another person's personal information, often to commit fraud.

Identity Fraud

Fraudulent use of someone else's identity for personal gain, causing financial or reputational harm.

Corporate Espionage

Targeted theft of confidential business information from companies or governments for competitive advantage.

Software Theft/Piracy

Unauthorized downloading or distribution of software, including creating illegal copies.

Cyberterrorism

Use of computers to launch large-scale attacks against critical systems, intending to disrupt infrastructure or public safety.

Child Sexual Exploitation (Cybercrime)

Includes luring minors via social media and the illegal trade of child pornography, which generates billions annually.

Cyberbullying

Repeated harassment through electronic means, often anonymously, with severe emotional effects.

Impacts of Cybercrime

Cybercrime leads to financial loss, breaches of privacy, and threats to public safety across individual and national levels.

Challenges in Prosecuting Cybercrime

Cybercrime is transnational and anonymous, complicating jurisdiction and law enforcement efforts.

Legal and Enforcement Issues (Cybercrime)

Laws often lag behind tech developments, requiring interdisciplinary approaches to handle cybercrime effectively.

Public-Order Crimes (Definition)

Acts considered illegal due to their moral or harmful implications, even when voluntarily engaged in (e.g., gambling, prostitution).

Consensus Perspective (Law)

Belief that laws reflect the moral standards agreed upon by the majority in society.

Conflict Perspective (Law)

Belief that laws serve the interests of powerful groups and reflect existing inequalities.

Gambling in Canada

Regulated by sections 197–209 of the Criminal Code; generates over $15 billion annually and includes Indigenous casino operations.

Prostitution (Historical Context)

Originally criminalized under vagrancy laws targeting the unemployed and socially marginalized.

Fraser Report (1985)

Argued that existing laws on sex work and pornography were outdated and required reform.

Current Prostitution Law (Sections 210–213)

Covers keeping a brothel, procuring, and living off the avails of prostitution.

Canada v. Bedford Case (2013)

Struck down certain prostitution laws as they endangered sex workers, prompting legal reform.

Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (2014)

Makes purchasing sexual services illegal but allows limited sale and protects sex workers from penalties.

Criticism of Current Prostitution Law

Argues the law undermines agency by portraying sex workers as victims; supports full decriminalization for safety.

Goals of Prostitution Decriminalization

Prevent child exploitation, protect sex workers from harm, and reduce community nuisance.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996)

Replaced the Narcotic Control Act, detailing possession, penalties, and forfeiture related to drug offenses.

Alcohol Regulation in Canada

Legal for adults over 18 or 19 depending on the province; strongly linked to criminal behavior.

Three Types of Psychoactive Drugs

Stimulants (e.g., caffeine), Depressants (e.g., alcohol), Hallucinogens (not detailed here).

Summary of Public-Order Crimes

Laws regulating morality are complex; demand for vice persists; criminology should take an integrated, interdisciplinary approach.