SOC-522: Cybercrime

This course will provide students with an overview of computer crime, the legislative responses to computer crime and the issues encountered by police when enforcing laws in cyberspace. Emphasis is on how  communication technologies can be targets of crime, instruments of crime and important sources of criminal evidence.  The global reach of the Internet, the low marginal cost of online activity, and the relative anonymity of users have contributed to a wide escalation in cybercrimes.  Consequently, information and communications technologies (ICT) are being increasingly employed to instigate threats to global civil society.  This course provides an overview of cybercrime and the digital law enforcement practices put in place to respond to them.  The course will focus on the types and extent of current cybercrimes, how the justice system responds to these crimes, the various constitutional protections afforded to computer users, the law and policies that govern cybercrime detection and prosecution, and related technologies.