How law enforcement was ill prepared for the rise of the internet

Internet usage is at an all-time high. Most people in California and across the country use it every single day, multiple times a day. It is used for recreation, business and financial reasons. With this rise in internet use, comes a rise in internet crime. Like any innovation before it, people have learned to use the internet to commit crimes. Unfortunately, as Government Technology notes, the law has not quite caught up to the internet criminals.

Fighting internet crime is not easy when law enforcement lacks the training and resources needed. Cyber criminals are savvy and skilled. They know how to beat security systems and get past even the toughest barriers. They are stealing identities, personal banking information, confidential business information and even hacking government files. There is no doubt they are skilled.

Cyber crime is made even more complex because it requires law enforcement to have technical skills and computer knowledge. In addition, crimes on the internet may fall under various jurisdictions, so sorting the legal aspects out can be tricky and time-consuming.

The Washington Post reports that cyber crime does not just affect online activity. It can also impact the physical world. Because so many systems, such as dam operations, are now controlled via computer, there is the potential for hackers to get into such systems and cause destruction. Creators of computer programs, websites and other hackable technology have built them with security in mind, but criminals are getting smarter and always seem to be one step ahead.