The internet is a complex and ever-growing environment that has progressively become intertwined with many aspects of civilization as we know it. The article “Cyber Criminology as an Academic Discipline: History, Contribution, and Impact” discusses how the internet began as a niche luxury that few people could access and became a pillar of modern society. While the benefits of the internet and technological advancement are numerous, the article notes how the internet was a catalyst for a new era of criminals. While there are many ways to address cybercrime, it is often difficult to determine what constitutes a crime and even more difficult to catch cybercriminals operating in other countries. Crime has been a problem throughout humanity’s history, and humanity has adapted to combat crime, including studying why and how people commit crimes through the study of criminology. As the internet presented more and more opportunities for cybercriminals, the need for a response became apparent, one of which was the study of “cyber criminology” (Jaishankar, K. 2018, pg.1).

This article is heavily related to the principles of social science as cyber criminology incorporates elements of different disciplines of study such as criminology, sociology, psychology, and victimology. According to the author, “There are many scholars who attempted to address the causation of cybercrimes with traditional theories such as Social Learning Theory, Routine Activities Theory and Drift and Neutralization theory” (Jaishankar, K. 2018, pg. 4). Cybercriminology is a product of information technology and computer sciences. Apart from its relationship to other fields of study, cyber criminology is inherently a study of human nature and relies heavily on empirical data. However, the many nuances of cyber criminology often involve variables inconceivable to the individuals responsible for these theories regarding crime. This has led to many conventional means of research and data collection becoming obsolete, ultimately leading to a significant culture shift in many areas of modern criminology. One of the focuses of cyber criminology is how individuals react to or justify committing cybercrimes. This is where cybercrime and traditional crimes have the most in common. One of the principles of social science that has had an increasingly prominent role in cyber criminology is social impact. The rise of social media and online banking has provided ample opportunities for cybercriminals to commit identity theft and influence people through online misinformation (Jaishankar, K. 2018, pg. 4).

The article primarily uses literary review and qualitative research to reinforce its claims and explain the purpose of cyber criminology. The main issue with cybercrime is that while it can be put in a broad category, it is often challenging to define what constitutes a crime on the internet and even more difficult to punish or locate the individuals responsible. While certain crimes, such as electronic theft or fraud, are relatively straightforward in terms of being illegal, actions such as hacking can vary wildly based on the cyber criminals’ intent. Due to the complexity of cybercrime, the author argues for cyber criminology to be practical. It must be a mix of several different social sciences. As for how the article relates to marginalized groups, one of the most effective exploits in cyber security is human error, which takes vast resources and countless hours of training employees to help mitigate this factor. This becomes an issue as a large corporation or well-funded school will be more likely to have the resources to educate individuals on potential dangers associated with technology. In contrast, individuals from marginalized communities may grow up with less access to technology and, therefore, may be more vulnerable targets for cybercriminals due to limited experience (Jaishankar, K. 2018, pg. 1-6).

In conclusion, this article provides a general overview of cyber criminology and how its existence is necessary for modern society to protect itself from cyber threats. This article provides valuable insight into what has been discussed in class, as cyber criminology ultimately links aspects of all the social sciences together to answer the threat presented by cyber criminals. While it can be challenging to apply most conventional social theories regarding crime and human nature to cybercriminals and online social interaction in general, there is a clear goal and benefit from cyber criminology as it attempts to help individuals understand cybercrime and as a result, prevent or minimize the harm caused by cybercriminals. While cyber criminology may be somewhat obscure, it undoubtedly has a place in our society and should receive more attention from researchers and anyone seeking a field of study.

Works Cited

Jaishankar, K. (2018). Cyber criminology as an academic discipline: history, contribution and impact. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 12(1), 1-8.