Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency as New Challenges for the Police

Abstract

Advances in technology, easy access to the internet, inconsistent rules and regulations, inadequate police training on cybercrime, and the complexity of international or multiorganizational collaboration in police operations have created new forms of cybercrime. Illegal cryptomarkets/darknet marketplaces transactions on the hidden web use cryptocurrency as a payment method, which makes it difficult to trace the identity of sellers and buyers. The internet and Dark Web browsers have also provided tools for criminals to conduct cyberattacks on businesses, infrastructure, education, health care, government, and even individual citizens with little impunity. The cross-border nature of cybercrimes, lack of uniformity in regulations, difficulties in collecting digital evidence, and identifying the physical location of the perpetrators have proven to be challenging tasks for police. Lack of public awareness of police jurisdiction of cybercrimes and limited police training on cyber technology and digital evidence gathering are some critical gaps identified in this chapter.