Criminalizing Internet Misuse: The Importance of Self Regulation Within the International Framework (Criminaliseren van Internet-misbruik?: Een Pleidooi voor Zelfregulering Binnen Internationale Kaders)

• NCJ Number: 187253
• Journal: Judicial Explorations Volume: 26 Issue: 5 Dated: June/July 2000 Pages: 45-57
• Author(s): G. van Rossum Dr.
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

This article focuses on the growing misuse of the Internet and the importance of self-regulation within international boundaries.

Abstract

In this article, the focus is on the growing problem of the abuse of the Internet. The article state’s the growth of an imbalance between innovation (stimulating economic growth) and risk control. Risky behavior on the Internet, like racism and child pornography, breaches of privacy, illegal trade, provoking disturbances, and financially damaging individuals or companies, has only recently been discovered as a big problem. Apart from the classical types of crimes the Internet generates new forms of crime like the spreading of viruses and willfully overcrowding (through e-mail) of sites. There is a relatively new group of victims of this network economy: companies, financial institutions and government organizations. The article states that the traditional way of tackling this problem, criminalization through the strengthening of the penal system, will not solve it. The author expects the solution to lie in self-regulation, public norms and the organization of compliance within international boundaries.