Online Harms and Cyber Crime Unit launch
Academics plan to investigate the links between offline and online crime and consider the human impact of a variety of types of offending
A new unit at the University of East London will investigate young people’s pathways into cybercrime as part of a ground-breaking research centre that focuses on “human factors” behind cybercrime and online harms.
The Unit launched at the House of Lords on 23 January 2020 and was opened by Baroness Thornton. (Pictured: Dr Sarah Fox, Baroness Thornton, Vice Chancellor and President Amanda Broderick, and criminology professor Julia Davidson.)
The Online Harms and Cyber Crime Unit will explore key
emergent issues such as: The way in which young people
become drawn into illegal online behaviour; child online protection and the
risks; challenges and opportunities to Law Enforcement Agencies of developing
technologies.
The Unit
will also examine the psychology of cybercrime, cyberstalking, hacking and
organised crime, as well as the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Academics plan
to investigate the links between offline and online crime and consider the
human impact of a variety of types of offending, including financial.
They hope the research will help the police, criminal justice system and
other agencies respond to future threats by understanding criminal behaviour
and criminal opportunities presented by future technologies.
The
centre, based at the University’s Stratford campus, will be directed by
criminology professor Julia Davidson and the policing lead, Dr Sarah Fox, who
have both conducted extensive research in the UK, EU and internationally focussing
upon young people's online protection and wellbeing, as well as the
legal/development and use of the Internet/digital and cyber environment.
Professor
Davidson’s recent research has led to the development of a child online
protection policy and implementation plan in Rwanda (End Violence Against
Children); underpinned the Government Online Harms White
Paper (DCMS); and, explores child abuse online offending contexts to inform
policy and practice in the UK (Home Office).
Professor
Davidson explained, that “cyberspace is still a relatively new domain. High
quality research is needed to evaluate the threats, measure the cost, consider
the human impact and to devise means for preventing, deterring future harms and
bringing offenders to trial, whilst also supporting the victims.”
Since 2014
Europol has recognised that there is a dynamic relationship between online and
offline organised crime. Interpol has highlighted that new trends in cybercrime
are emerging all the time, with estimated costs to the global economy running
to billions of pounds. Therefore, as the barriers to crime participation and
syndication offline have reduced, there has been a corresponding increase in
online crime.
Dr Fox
said, “New trends are constantly emerging, making it a
challenge for agencies to police.
There
remains challenges in terms of policing cyberspace including as to where
governance should lie and the role of various agencies. The Online Harms and Cyber Crime Unit is
perfectly positioned to help inform Law Enforcement Agencies, policymakers,
statutory authorities, individuals and society.”
Dr Fox’s
current research focuses on technology
and opportunities/risks to policing and other Law Enforcement Agencies; and has
given expert talks to Europol, the Council of Europe and at the United Nations.
Dr Fox also sits on expert groups including the International Advisory Board of
the International Commission on Cyber Security Law.