Social media's effect on the perpetration and solving of crimes
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Authors
Walther, Matthew S.
Issue Date
2017
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Cybercrime , Social media , Law enforcement , Malware , Ransomware
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study quantitatively compared the rate of four cybercrimes (malware, ransomware, identity theft, and cyberstalking) to determine if significant increase occurred over a period of years. A correlation between cybercrimes and the rising amount of social media users was sought. Of the four cybercrimes analyzed, ransomware (t(1) = 14.31, p= .04), identity theft (¢(4) = 8.34, p = .001), and cyberstalking (t(3) = 20.30, p = .0002) showed ecnigaa increase in reported complaints. Data obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), was used to determine if there has been a significant increase in total internet crime complaints in the last seven years compared to the prior seven year period. Analysis revealed a significant increase (1(6) = 3.22, p = .018) in total internet crime complaints. Through the administration of a self-reported survey, participants’ responses were used to determine if a significant amount had witnessed dial content on a social media site; or spread or shared information about possible/suspected crime to other users based on five variables. There was no significant difference observed using the five variables: age (y7(1, N= 50) = 0.61, p = 4), number of social media accounts past or present (y°(1, NV= 50) = 0.34, p = .56), number of years using social media (7°(1, N = 50) = 1.03, p = .3), number of hours spent using social media weekly (97(1, N = 50) = 0.14. p = .70), and gender (p = .2, Fisher’s exact test). Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google transparency reports were used to determine if social media usage by law enforcement had significantly increased in the last four years. Transparency reports analysis showed no significant increase in account request for information from 2015-2016 compared to 2013-2014, (41) = 5.92, p= .11.