CHAPTER 14: Technology and Crime

Conflict theorists from our theory section remind us:
   --change is everywhere
   --change leads to conflict
   --the shapes new crimes
 
In your lifetime: WHAT TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN? What were the
implications of those changes? 

How have those technological changes led to social changes?

How have those social chances let to new forms of social offenses?

How has technology "created" crime or enhanced law enforcement?

What kinds of behaviors that once might have been considered deviant or
wrong, even if not illegal, have become more mainstream because of
technological changes?

Several dimensions to this, including computer crime:

1) Internal computer crimes (malware)
   logic bombs; trap doors; adware; viruses; worms

2) Internet and Telecommunications crimes
   phreaking/hacking; denial of service; theft of services;

3) Instruments of crime (support of criminal enterprises)
   databases; gambling (note this was moved from #2 to #3);
   money laundering; criminal conspiracies

4) Computer manipulation crimes
   phishing; fraud; extortion; stalking

5) Crime enhancement
   porn/indecency/obsenity; software piracy; theft of proprietary info  

Computer crime and the law; an example:
Communications Decency Act, 1996

Changing definitions of:
--sex offenders/child pornography
Obscenity, indecency, profanity

Cyber-Security Enhancement Act (2002): Homeland security legislation that
added penalties if public safety/lives in jeopardy 

Digital Theft and Deterrence & Copyright damages act (1999): intended to
thwart theft of intellectual property

History of hacking (summarize)

=========Other changes:

1) DNA - apprehension, exoneration, profiling

For thought:

1) Should encryption of messages be prohibited? 

2) Should law enforcement be allowed to monitor your email?

3) If I have a request from the FBI to search your email, should I 
allow it?

4) Should the FBI surf the net for "crime?"
  
5) Should we have a public DNA base?

6) Should we have online regitries for offenses?

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