Internet anonymity practices in computer crime

Abstract

Money laundering, drug dealing, terrorism, hacking, fraud, child pornography and the distribution of objectionable material are crimes that are perpetrated using the Internet. Criminals utilise software tools and valuable knowledge from the Internet as well as embracing the Internet’s global communications system to participate in virtual communities of disguised people. The Internet provides the facilities for people with criminal intent to associate and exchange intelligence with reduced risk to their personal identification. Using the example of paedophile and hacker Internet practice, this paper proposes an association between criminal Internet activity and Internet anonymity. It discusses the propensity to use anonymity techniques when perpetrating cyber crime. Consequently, a new balance between privacy, freedom of speech and law enforcement must be determined.