SSCI 5300G - Cybercrime and Criminology

This course explores how a networked world has bred new crimes and new responses and investigates how the computer has become a tool, a target, a place of criminal activity and national security threats, and a mechanism of response. It reviews the origins of these crimes in ordinary crime and traces how these crimes have developed. It examines responses to the emerging threats posed by the various forms of cybercrime and considers the effectiveness of strategies used to combat them. Special topics may include: some in-depth study of predatory stalking, child pornography, hacking, fraud against individuals or companies, and cyber-terrorism. Since these crimes and their prosecution are often transnational, a comparative approach is taken. The course discusses whether national laws are sufficient to regulate international activities and examines international responses to the problem of cybercrime.
Credit hours: 3