CHAPTER TWO: THE GLOBAL PICTURE CHAPTER TWO: THE GLOBAL PICTURE Following a brief look at approaches to measuring cybercrime, this Chapter paints a global picture of ‘who’ (and how many) are involved in ‘what’ (and how much) cybercrime. It finds that cybercrime acts are broadly distributed across different cybercrime categories with victimization rates higher than conventional crime in many cases. While perpetrator profiles depend upon cybercrime act type, upwards of 80 per cent of cybercrime acts are estimated to originate in some form of organized activity. 2.1 Measuring cybercrime Key results:  Information sources for measuring cybercrime include police-recorded crime statistics; (population-based and business surveys; victim reporting initiatives; and technologybased cybersecurity information  Statistics that purport to measure cybercrime as an aggregate phenomenon are unlikely to be comparable cross-nationally. Data disaggregated by discrete cybercrime act offers a higher degree of consistency and comparability  While police-recorded cybercrime statistics are valuable for national-level crime prevention and policy making, they are not generally suitable for cross-national comparisons in the area of cybercrime. Survey-based and technology-based information source can, however, provide valuable insights  Different information sources are used in this Study to address the questions of ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘how much’ cybercrime Why measure cybercrime? Article 11 of the United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime1 states that crime prevention strategies, polices, programmes and actions should be based on a ‘broad, multidisciplinary foundation of knowledge about crime problems.’ This ‘knowledge base’ should include the establishment of ‘data systems.’2 The collection of data for planning interventions to prevent and reduce crime is as important for cybercrime as it is for other crime types. Measurement of cybercrime can be used to inform crime reduction initiatives; to enhance local, national, regional and international responses; to identify gaps in responses; to provide intelligence and risk assessment; and to educate and inform the public.3 Many commentators highlight the particular challenges of collecting information on the 1 2 3 Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime, annex to United Nations Economic and Social Council Resolution 2002/13 on Action to promote effective crime prevention, 24 July 2002. Ibid. Art. 21(f). Fafinski, S., Dutton, W.H. and Margetts, H., 2010. Mapping and Measuring Cybercrime. Oxford Internet Institute Forum Discussion Paper No. 18., June 2010. 23