Distribution of cybercrime acts Cybercrime acts show a broad distribution across the range of offences. According to the perceptions of law enforcement institutions, financial-driven acts, such as computer-related fraud or forgery, make up around one third of acts across almost all regions of the world. A number of countries mentioned that ‘fraud in electronic commerce and payment’, ‘fraud on auction sites such as ebay,’ ‘advanced fee fraud’, ‘cybercrime targeting personal and financial information’ and ‘fraud scheme through email and social networking sites’ were particularly prevalent.10 As discussed below, the financial impact of such crime is significant. Figure 2.1: Most common cybercrime acts encountered by national police 100% Illegal data interference or system damage Illegal access to a computer system 90% Illegal access, interception or acquisition of computer data Computer‐related copyright and trademark offences Sending or controlling sending of SPAM 80% 70% 60% Computer‐related fraud and forgery Computer‐related acts involving racism and xenophobia Computer‐related acts in support of terrorism offences Breach of privacy or data protection measures 50% 40% 30% Computer‐related identity offences Computer‐related solicitation or ‘grooming’ of children Computer‐related acts causing personal harm 20% 10% Computer‐related production, distribution or possession of child pornography 0% Europe (n=21) Asia and Oceania (n=18) Americas (n=12) Africa (n=10) Source: Study cybercrime questionnaire. Q80. (n=61, r=140) Another one third to, in some regions, half of acts relate to computer content – including child pornography, content related to terrorism offences, and content infringing intellectual property rights. Child pornography-related offences were identified more frequently in Europe and the Americas, than in Asia and Oceania or Africa – although this may relate to differences in law enforcement focus between regions, rather than underlying differences. Computer-related acts broadly ‘causing personal harm,’ on the other hand, were identified as more common in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, than in Europe. The discussion on content-related acts below further examines some of these trends. According to law enforcement perceptions, acts against the confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of computer systems, such as ‘illegal access to a computer system’, make up between one third and 10 per cent of acts, depending upon the region. Such actions are integral to a range of cybercrimes and it may be that differing capacities of countries to identify and to prosecute these (more technical) offences affects their perceived prevalence across regions. On the other hand, as discussed below, victimization surveys do suggest that there are differences in, for example, levels of 10 Study cybercrime questionnaire. Q80 and Q85. 26