The last twenty years have seen an explosion in the development of information technology,
to the point that people spend a major portion of their waking life in online spaces.
While there are enormous benefits associated with this technology, there are also risks
that can affect the most vulnerable in our society but also the most confident. Cybercrime
and its Victims explores the social construction of violence and victimisation in online
spaces and brings together scholars from many areas of inquiry, including criminology,
sociology, and cultural, media, and gender studies.
The book is organised thematically into five parts. Part I addresses some broad conceptual
and theoretical issues. Part II is concerned with issues relating to sexual violence,
abuse, and exploitation, as well as to sexual expression online. Part III addresses issues
related to race and culture. Part IV addresses concerns around cyberbullying and online
suicide, grouped together as ‘social violence’. The final part argues that victims of cybercrime
are, in general, neglected and not receiving the recognition and support they need
and deserve. It concludes that, in the volatile and complex world of cyberspace, continued
awareness-raising
is essential for bringing attention to the plight of victims. It also argues
that there needs to be more support of all kinds for victims, as well as an increase in the
exposure and punishment of perpetrators.
Drawing on a range of pressing contemporary issues such as online grooming, sexting,
cyberhate, cyberbullying, and online radicalisation, this book examines how cyberspace
makes us more vulnerable to crime and violence, how it gives rise to new forms of surveillance
and social control, and how cybercrime can be prevented.