Week 13 – Journal Entry 14: Common Online Actions That Are Actually Illegal

While browsing through Andriy Slynchuk’s article on Clario’s blog, I came across a list of common online actions that are actually illegal. It was eye-opening to realize how many of these things people do every day without knowing the risks. After reading through all eleven, I picked out the five that I believe are the most serious.

Collecting personal information from children under 13 is at the top of my list. It’s not only unethical but also a direct violation of COPPA, a law meant to protect young users from being targeted or exploited. Another serious offense is doxxing, which involves sharing someone’s private information like their address or phone number without their permission. This can easily lead to harassment or even physical danger.

Faking an online identity is also more harmful than it seems; it can be used for scams, fraud, and manipulation, breaking down trust in online communities. Cyberbullying and trolling are incredibly damaging as well. They might seem like “just words” to some, but the psychological harm they cause is very real and sometimes devastating. Lastly, recording VoIP calls without the other person’s consent is a major privacy violation and illegal in many areas.

This entire list made me think more deeply about the ethical responsibilities we have as digital citizens and, especially for me as a cybersecurity student, how important it is to promote safe and respectful online behavior.