NCJ Number
88173
Journal
Australian Police Journal Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1982) Pages: 243-256
Date Published
1982
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Because of an expanding international network of computer systems and the potential for computer-related crime, an Ad Hoc Committee for the Drafting of an International Convention Against the Commission of Computer-Related Crime should be established.
Abstract
Currently, it appears unlikely that computer-related crime will be addressed by public international law. In the absence of international legislation, a multiateral treaty suggests itself as the most appropriate means of coping with this developing sphere of crime. Such a treaty falls within the ambit of the United Nations, whose objectives in this field are to establish basic standards and preserve basic human rights in crime prevention, criminal justice, and the rehabilitation of offenders. In considering legislation to address computer-related crime, it is necessary to identify the types of crimes to be included. They might involve financial and property theft; computer software, program, information, or data theft; unlawful access to computers; illegal use of computers; false accounting; furnishing false reports; malicious damage; and ransom or hostage situations. As a preamble to proposed legislation, it is necessary to define the object and its components that require protection. In formulating a definition for a computer, it should not be too restrictive nor so broad as to make it meaningless. The Victoria (Australia) Crimes Act is used as the basis for draft legislation proposed for computer-related thefts. Definitions of various types of computer-related crime are appended, and 18 bibliographic listings are provided.