Criminological Internet "Sting": Experimental Evidence of Illegal and Deviant Visits to a Web site Trap

• NCJ Number: 199316
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2003 Pages: 213-222
• Author(s): Christina Demetriou; Andrew Silke
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This article reports on a British study of criminal and deviant behavior that occurred in connection with an Internet Web site that was established to determine whether people who visited for the purposes of gaining access to legal material would also attempt to access illegal and/or pornographic material.

Abstract

In a disclaimer at the Web site, the visitor could read a statement regarding the pornographic content on the site and the illegality of downloading hacked software and games and passwords. One section of the site offered working links to legally distributed free software such as screen savers and browsers. Under games to download, visitors were given the option to download either free (legal) or "hacked" (illegal) games; the links to the hacked games did not work. Softcore pornography (legal in the United Kingdom) was available on the site. Links to hardcore pornography were offered on the site but did not work when clicked. Viewing and possessing adult hardcore pornography is not illegal in the United Kingdom. Another section of the site claimed to offer visitors stolen passwords that would enable them to illegally access certain paid-only pornographic Web sites. These links were not genuine and did not work. The site was designed to assess whether people who visited the site in order to gain legal material would also attempt to access illegal and/or pornographic materials. Visitors were encouraged to access the site through search engine Web sites and through newsgroups. By advertising the site as one that offered free games and freeware/shareware, it ensured that only those interested in such material would find the site. Results were collected from data recorded by Extreme Tracker. Over an 88-day period, 803 visitors entered the site. Those sections that offered illegal and/or deviant material were accessed by a majority of visitors. The findings suggest that ease of accessibility and anonymity make deviant and illegal behavior the norm in cyberspace. These factors must be taken into account when attempting to deter and prevent illegal behavior in the use of the Internet. 1 figure and 32 references