• E4J University Module Series: Cybercrime

• Module 7: International Cooperation against Cybercrime

• Introduction and learning outcomes

• Key issues

  • Sovereignty and jurisdiction
  • Formal international cooperation mechanisms
  • Informal international cooperation mechanisms
  • Data retention, preservation and access
  • Challenges relating to extraterritorial evidence
  • National capacity and international cooperation
  • Conclusion
  • References

• Exercises

• Possible class structure

• Core reading

• Advanced reading

• Student assessment

• Additional teaching tools

•  

• First published in June 2019 
  

•  

 

  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Introduction

 

Cybercrime can be perpetrated by offenders anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. The adverse impacts of cybercrime can be experienced outside of the country in which the perpetrator resides. The transnational nature of this crime challenges traditional notions of jurisdiction and requires cooperation of criminal justice agents across the globe (see also the University Module Series on Organized Crime, particularly Module 11 on International Cooperation to Combat Transnational Organized Crime). This cooperation has been observed, for example, in international investigations of online illicit markets (or dark markets), such as Darkode (i.e., a dark market known for selling illicit goods and services, including access to stolen data and malware). Coordinated efforts between law enforcement authorities from 20 countries led to the identification, arrest, and search of members and associates of this site (U.S. Department of Justice, 2015). Despite this and other successful cooperative efforts between countries, barriers to international cooperation against cybercrime still exist today. This Module explores the notions of sovereignty and jurisdiction relating to cybercrime, international cooperation mechanisms, and the challenges to international cooperation.

 

Learning Outcomes

• Describe and differentiate between sovereignty and jurisdiction, and apply them to cybercrime
• Compare, contrast, and appraise various formal international cooperation mechanisms
• Evaluate informal international cooperation mechanisms
• Discuss and compare data retention, preservation, and access practices between countries
• Identify and assess challenges relating to extraterritorial evidence
• Discuss the deficit in national capacity to conduct cybercrime investigations and its impact on international cooperation

 

Next: Key issues

Back to top