What Are Cybercrimes and Other Technology-Related Criminal Offences?

The new digital age presents citizens with a number of advancements that make life easier. But digital developments also present opportunities for criminal activity.

Cybercrime. Computer crime. Technology-related criminal offences. Whatever you want to call them, the criminal offences are on the rise, and young people are most well-suited to utilize the internet and technology to commit the new crimes.

Canada recognizes these issues and has signed onto legal acts that criminalize the internet’s role with racist, xenophobic, and other ugly sources of hateful language online. Canada has also signed on to the Convention on Cybercrime, which is meant to crack down on criminal offences related to computer use. Generally speaking, the way to identify cybercrime is whether computers were used to commit a crime or whether the crime itself targeted technology.

Examples of cybercrime include the following:

•  Attempting or aiding and abetting corporate crimes and white-collar criminal offences.
•  Cyberbullying.
•  Darknet marketplaces.
•  Defamatory libel.
•  Encouraging or counseling suicide.
•  Extortion.
•  Fake romance frauds.
•  Hacking and hacktivism.
•  Incitement of hatred.
•  Intimidation and threats.
•  Identity theft.
•  Mischief of data
•  Money laundering.
•  Online scams.
•  Ransomware.
•  Sharing intimate images without consent.
•  Trafficking in child pornography.
•  Unauthorized use of a computer.
•  Virtual mobbing.

What Are Cyber-Enabled Crimes?

Cyber-enabled crimes are crimes that we’ve seen countless times conducted by other means but, in this case, were conducted online via the use of a computer. Also sometimes known as cyber-supported crime.

Examples of cyber-enabled crimes include the following:

•  Advance-fee scams.
•  Bank fraud.
•  Black market deals.
•  Counterfeiting.
•  Credit card fraud.
•  Data theft.
•  Forgery.
•  Hacking data.
•  Identity theft.
•  Insider trading.
•  Organised crime.
•  Pharming.
•  Phishing scams.
•  Piracy.
•  Politically motivated attacks.
•  Sexual offences.
•  Terrorism.

Are the Kids All Right?

Many young people never lived in a world without having the internet right at their fingertips. This is a part of their daily lives – and, for some, their online lives are more fulfilling than their in-person day-to-day lives because the internet might be where most of their closest friends are. And that’s perfectly okay.

The world has changed, and our younger generations have changed with it. But this does leave them open to dark possibilities stemming from a lack of privacy, an online environment full of hate, and the invitation to take part in cybercrime.

Is Social Media Linked to Youth Violence?

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms have been blamed for influencing a rise in depression and other mental health issues. But do these social media sites also play a role in youth violence? Studies suggest yes.

Experts believe that regular disagreements become heated arguments and verbal wars when they play out online. Some social media critics believe that social media has ‘normalized’ violence. This may influence how they deal with stressful situations and interpersonal conflict for young, developing people.

Is Cyberbullying Against the Law?

While cyberbullying itself may not have specific laws written to curtail the offence, there are several acts that take place during cyberbullying which can be against the law. As such, there can be severe criminal consequences for those found guilty of the action.

Possible criminal charges for cyberbullying may include the following:

•  Counselling suicide.
•  Criminal harassment.
•  Defamatory libel.
•  Extortion.
•  False messages.
•  Identity theft.
•  Incitement of hatred.
•  Indecent or harassing phone calls.
•  Sharing intimate imagery without the consent of the subject.
•  Threats and intimidation.
•  Unauthorized use of a computer.

While the focus may be on young people, they’re not the only ones guilty of these wrongs. There are stories of middle-aged people involved in the same sort of mass harassment, too.

Consult with an Experienced Criminal Defence Lawyer in Toronto Today

If you’ve been accused of cybercrimes, cyber-enabled crimes, or cyberbullying, you need to respect the seriousness of the accusations and speak to an experienced criminal defence lawyer. William Jaska has nearly two decades of experience defending clients in several practice areas. A large number of his clients are young people, as he believes in the importance of their futures not being under threat due to a few bad decisions.

Contact our law firm today to schedule your initial consultation with the lawyer and his highly-skilled legal team. Call our office at 647-951-8078.