AP/SOSC 4665 6.00
Global Approaches to Internet and Digital Crime
Crosslisted: AP/CRIM 4665
This course examines the global approaches to the detection, investigation, and enforcement of a broad variety of internet crimes and technology-related crimes with a particular focus on the efforts of non-state actors. It considers technology both as a target and tool of regulation. Among the topics considered are the transnational regulation of digital vigilantes and hacking, regulation through algorithms, hate speech and online extremism, smart cities, data governance, bodily data, digital rights, technologically facilitated domestic violence, and technological colonialism. Criminology generally focuses on the study of crime and its control by law enforcement and within the criminal justice system. Understanding fully how society deals with crime, however, entails a much broader appreciation of the pluralized policing environment, which is composed of public, private, and hybrid forms of governance within a transnational context. This seminar offers an interdisciplinary inquiry into the key debates, theories, and contexts for thinking about the diverse range of actors, technologies, and regulatory strategies involved in exploring global approaches to address internet crimes and technology-related crimes. It draws from criminology, socio-legal studies, regulatory theory, law and technology studies, media studies, and the internet governance literature. The course considers critically the role of non-state actors (corporate, civil-society groups, and ordinary citizens) and regulatory efforts using criminal law and informal soft law measures and effects on policymaking. The course investigates the growing use of technology as an instrument to monitor and control criminal or deviant behaviour by corporate actors and civil-society actors.