Among many social problems that have already been discussed, the issue of rising cybercrime has been on my mind the most. I would like to discuss this issue and the questions that arise from it in more detail.
In the world of today, it is difficult to imagine not using technology in some capacity, however recently gadgets that are considered helpful have been making their users more vulnerable. Whereas before to steal one’s information a thief had to physically enter a home, now they can access this information from the comfort of their own home through a device, completely anonymously. Mass leaks of sensitive information from companies have been affecting thousands of people, whose Social Security numbers and other private information has been stolen by mysterious and often untraceable hackers. Online threats of violence and doxing – the act of publicly revealing private information about a person online – are becoming more wide-spread. Online stalking and harassment, theft of personal information, extortion through digital means – all of these are new issues that already plague society. Worse still, the fields of jurisprudence and law enforcement are slow to adapt to modern-day technology and oftentimes it is difficult for crimes committed in the digital space to be investigated to a satisfying conclusion even if they are reported.
It is also worth considering how many people fall under the scope of this social issue. Among the users of smartphones and smart devices are children and other vulnerable populations. Smart devices are in our cars, kitchenware, TVs, medical devices, among others. It is highly difficult to avoid using them at home or at work. However, the systems used by these devices are vast and complex, with many loopholes and weak areas that allow criminals to not only access them, but also to control them for nefarious means (Bayard, 2019, p. 69). This means that almost everyone is susceptible at any time, day or night. Cybercrime is among the world’s latest social problems and if it not quickly addressed, it is bound to snowball out of control. The biggest question raised by this issue is: what is to be done about it? It is important to consider this question at both a personal level and government level and explore possible solutions.
Reference
Bayard, E. (2019). The rise of cybercrime and the need for state cybersecurity regulations, Rutgers Computer & Tech. LJ, 4, 69-95.