Cybercrime Law refers to legal provisions and regulations developed
punish crimes that only take place using digital technology – in most cases, on the internet – and to deter the occurrence of these crimes. Cybercrime laws aim to protect individuals, businesses, and national or even international security from actions such as hacking, identity theft, online fraud, cyberstalking, phishing, and malware distribution. The vast majority of countries have implemented specific legislation to prevent, prosecute, and impose penalties for cybercrimes. For instance, in America, there are few laws to legislate and punish cyber–related crimes.
Namely in particular cases, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the recently enacted Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) both address some cyber-related crimes. Similarly, in Pakistan, Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 penalizes a broad array of cyber–related crimes, including (but not necessarily limited to) defamation, online harassment, and knowingly accessing/delivering information through cyberspace without permission. Depending upon the severity of the particular offense, penalties for cybercrime often include varied (and even harsh) penalties including imprisonment and a fine.
Law enforcement in any country will work with cyber professional or cyber experts for tracking down cybercriminals and to deter threats in cyberspace. As the world continues to rely on technology for virtually every area of our lives, cybercrime laws continue to develop and adapt towards new crimes that develop, issues pertaining to emerging threats or conditions where crimes or regulated activities happen, perhaps as a result of activities in areas such as cryptocurrency, ransomware, or potential increased use of criminal activity using artificial intelligence. Whether for businesses or the general public, it is important to understand these laws, so that procedures pertaining to online activities do not run afoul of legal laws regulating activities.
Governments generally encourage incident awareness and strict compliance with cybercrime law, and cyber authorities frequently collaborate and discuss with law enforcement or the general public to encourage safe spaces in the new digital environments.
