How cyber breeds crime and criminals

Abstract

Understanding how cyber breeds novel crime and new criminals is a contribution to criminological models with significant applied value. It is highly important for law enforcement and particularly pivotal for preventive intervention. In this paper we propose a human rights-based crime definition, present explanatory models for cybercrime, and outline future arenas and drivers to suggest to the stakeholder community prevention focuses and priorities. The presented work ultimately aims towards supporting two crime preventive design initiatives, one targeted at accounting for and narrowing the cybercriminal space of means, opportunities, and motives; the other aiming at augmenting early and proactive adaptation of crime legislation. Finally, life-based and agile design paradigms are briefly introduced as suitable methods to be pursued in future research and developmental projects.