Cyber Crime

This essay considers how information and communications technologies (ICT) are used by organized crime groups. Three categories of groups are identified: traditional organized criminal groups, which make use of ICT to enhance their terrestrial criminal activities; organized cybercriminal groups, which operate exclusively online; and organized groups of ideologically and politically motivated individuals (including state and state-sponsored actors), who make use of ICT to facilitate their criminal conduct. We feel that it is important to draw a distinction between these types of organized criminal groups, particularly when formulating cybersecurity policy, because cybercriminality is not a monolithic threat. The article will note the transnational nature of much organized criminal activity and will discuss mechanisms for the control of organized crime in the digital age.