Cybercrime—computer hacking, social engineering, intellectual property theft, electronic fraud, online interpersonal violence, identity theft, and Internet-facilitated sexual victimization—is a leading threat to national security, with millions of victims in both the United States and around the world, and billions of dollars being spent to combat it.
Criminology and related disciplines are just beginning to understand cybercrime and how best to deter and prevent it—or at least reduce its harms. Despite technical solutions and policy suggestions by industry officials and academics, many contemporary attempts to tackle the problem remain best guesses. The field needs more empirical testing, systematic analysis, evaluation, and theory development to address this multifaceted and complex crime.
In response, Criminology & Public Policy has published its first-ever special issue on cybercrime and cybersecurity. Led by special issue editors and cybercrime experts Jin R. Lee (George Mason University) and Thomas J. Holt (Michigan State University), the issue features cutting-edge research and knowledge in this area. Criminology & Public Policy is the flagship policy and practice issue of the American Society of Criminology and is edited by Cynthia Lum (George Mason University) and Christopher S. Koper (George Mason University).
“The human elements of cybercrime and cybersecurity pose unique and complex challenges to criminology,” note the editors in the introduction to the special issue. “While the victims of cybercrime are everyday individuals, businesses, and communities, offenders are often international, hard to find, and sometimes state-sponsored.
“This special issue provides examples and ideas,” they write, “and we encourage collaboration across disciplines and with private and public sector organizations. Criminology has much to offer—and learn—in the field of cybercrime and cybersecurity.”
The 11 studies in the special issue build the knowledge base for understanding and addressing cybercrime and improving cybersecurity by applying theories and methods in criminology and related fields, including:
Criminology & Public Policy
Special Issue: Cybercrime and Cybersecurity
13-Nov-2023