In Focus: Cybercrime

This module reflects on the challenges of identifying criminals in cyberspace and the conflict between cyberspace and the real-world. It also considers the value of prosecutors being able to pursue numerous offences for many cybercriminal acts.

Students study a wide range of offences, from hacking to political activism, and from fraud to child pornography. It provides an insight into the potential for computer and cyberspace criminality and uncovers the pressures this puts on the justice system and its professionals.

Real-world experiences

Students gain an appreciation for the impact of computers and the internet on criminal behaviour and how law has adapted to these changes.

By engaging with legal and criminological theories to support their legal analysis and examining real-world examples of cybercrime in the news, including potential liability, students develop a deep awareness of current issues and how to tackle them.

<p>Cyber security concept - image courtesy of Getty Images</p>

The exploration of the governance of cybercrime is imperative in this ever-advancing age of technology; new technology has presented new opportunities and new methods to commit crimes against both people and states.

The evolution of the computer has also created unprecedented hurdles regarding jurisdiction to prosecute criminals, provided you can catch them first!

This module contextualises legal, sociological, and criminological theory in the realm of cyberspace broadly, through the exploration of offences both against the computer and through the computer. From data protection to cyberterrorism, this module critically analyses the current statutory provisions in place to protect people in this new, digital environment.

Ellie-Rose Cloney, Third year student

Academic staff

This module will be taught by Dr Hannah Stones, a specialist in law for remote-controlled and autonomous ships, using maritime law, technology law and legal theory.

Dr Hannah Stones

Dr Hannah Stones research involves the synthesis of legal theory and technological challenges posed to law through the development of remote-controlled and autonomous systems, including the cyber-vulnerabilities they create. Dr Stones has considered the roles of different aspects of the law, criminal and civil, in preventing harm which could result from the greater integration of these technologies into society.

Publications include; H Stones, ‘Will the smart ship also be the liable ship?: An analysis of the application of liability to the ship itself’ in Smart Ship Technology, 24-5 January 2017, London, UK, Papers (Royal Institution of Naval Architects 2017)

Dr Stones has also provided contributions (individual and group) to calls of evidence and consultations, which relate to cyber and technological risks and developments for cars and ships.