Cybercrime
Cybercrimes can be defined as:
“Offences that are committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm, or loss, to the victim directly or indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks such as Internet (networks including chat rooms, emails, notice boards and groups) and mobile phones (Bluetooth/SMS/MMS)”.
Halder, D., & Jaishankar, K. (2011) Cyber crime and the Victimization of Women: Laws, Rights, and Regulations. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global. ISBN 978-1-60960-830-9
Our role is to harness the knowledge and capacity that exists in victim support community and to make sure it’s amplified. Our aim is to have this unique overview of everything that’s going on in the field of cyber crime, and to connect those with expertise and resources, whether they’re victim support organisations or from other parts of society, to increase the overall ability of victims’ rights activists to bring about change for their communities.
VSE acknowledges that there are several organisations which concentrate on the area of cybercrime and its victims. We observe that this is especially well covered in specific areas such as online child abuse, and financial fraud. As such, we do not aim to duplicate actions which are already carried out by other organisations. However, in recognising the ever-changing nature of cybercrime and the difficulties that investigators face in keeping up with new technological advances in criminality, it is paramount that VSE maintains cybercrime and its growing number of victims as a working priority.
Victims of cybercrime are often ‘left in the dark’ because their rights are not understood by LEA or victim support organisations (VSO herein). Victims may feel like the police do not support them when there is not identifiable perpetrator, or in the case where the culprit of a cybercrime is in a foreign country. VSE seeks to fill these gaps and protect and advocate on behalf of all victims of cybercrime.
So far through research we have identified some potential priorities for actions. These notably will be developed in line with the key pillars of VSE’s overarching strategy:
1) Research – better identification of problems faced and solutions for victims of cybercrime, definitions of cybercrime, best practices to support victims and raise awareness of their needs and impact, identification of specialist organisation operating in the field.
2) Training – VSO, justice practitioners, and policy makers – victims’ needs, specialist responses for cybercrime – in particular practical and technical issues – development of soft skills for working with victims.
3) EU partnership/policy development – DG HOME looking to VSE for support in the incorporation of victims’ perspective in cybercrime and cyber security in policy and law. VSE cooperation with them to anticipate new Commissioner.
Crime is Crime, Even Online
Online hate crime has fast became an unfortunate and devastating facet of our ever-increasing online presence, and is a major topic at the forefront of cybercrime.
In 2019, VSE launched an online hate speech awareness campaign ‘Crime is Crime, Even Online’. The aim of the campaign is twofold; first, to inform netizens of their rights when subjects of online hate, and available support services in the case of victimisation. Secondly, the campaign material (video, text and audio from experts in the field of crime, technology and victim support), has been utilised in training modules for professionals across Europe.
See more details about our awareness-raising efforts on cyber hate on the dedicated page.
Watch this space for more actions on cybercrime, as VSE works towards building up its expertise and action in this area.
What is the EU doing to combat cybercrime and protect its victims?
On 29th of January 2020, the European Commission released its latest Eurobarometer on Europeans’ attitudes towards cybercrime.
According to the survey, cybercrime awareness is rising. 52% of respondents are stating they are fairly well or very well informed about cybercrime, compared to 46% in 2017. However, less Europeans feel they can protect themselves suficiently: 59%, down from 71% in 2017.
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/news/20200129_special-eurobarometer-cyber-security_en
EU Law
Monitoring and updating EU law on cybercrime:
- 2011 – A Directive on combating the sexual exploitation of children online and child pornography, which better addresses new developments in the online environment, such as grooming (offenders posing as children to lure minors for the purpose of sexual abuse). In 2016 the Commission published two reports on the measures taken by Member States to comply with the Directive (one on entire Directive, and one focusing on the measures against websites containing child pornography).
- 2013 – A Directive on attacks against information systemsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••, which aims to tackle large-scale cyber-attacks by requiring Member States to strengthen national cyber-crime laws and introduce tougher criminal sanctions. In 2017, the Commission has published a Report assessing the extent to which Member States have taken the necessary measures in order to comply with the Directive.
- 2018 – The Commission has proposed a Regulation and Directive facilitating cross-border access to electronic evidence for criminal investigations.
- 2019 – A new Directive on non-cash means of payment, which updates the legal framework, removing obstacles to operational cooperation and enhancing prevention and victims’ assistance, to make law enforcement action against fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment more effective.
EU legislation on cybercrime corresponds to the rules set out in the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.
VSE’s Short Film ‘The Right to Be Forgotten’
In 2017, VSE produced a short film RightToBeForgotten that was officially premiered at VSE Autumn Conference “Supporting Victims of Cybercrime” on the 8 December 2017 at European Economic and Social Committee.
The movie was produced to help broaden access and awareness of support to victims of cybercrime. The film is produced in collaboration with Transcendent Media Capital and with the support of European Commission/DG Justice.
The plot involves Justine who discovers naked photos of herself posted online and finds herself the subject of secondary victimisation.
