Internet and Child Victimisation

• NCJ Number: 179345
• Author(s): Marni Feather
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Paper presented at the Children and Crime: Victims and Offenders Conference convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology in Brisbane, 17-18 June 1999

Annotation

This paper looks at child victimization in cyberspace, noting the significant expansion of the Internet and factors that facilitate Internet crimes involving children.

Abstract

All Internet services involve the direct or indirect release of personal information, and major concerns have been raised about anonymity. In addition, the Internet provides a wide audience for criminals and complicates the issue of jurisdictional responsibility. Internet-related crimes involving children are categorized according to obscene material, child pornography, pedophile networking, and hate propaganda. The Internet can also be used to publish damaging information on drugs and weapons and as a stalking tool due to the availability of personal information. Other crimes that can be perpetrated using the Internet include commercially motivated crimes, fraud, gambling, and the sale of contraband. Privacy and crime prevention issues associated with Internet-related crime are considered, as well as legislative responses to child victimization by the Internet.