Digital Currents In The Digital Stream: Cybercrime In The 21st Century, An Evolving Threat To Global Security, Privacy, And The Rule Of Law
- IJLLR Journal
- May 12
- 2 min read
Ankit Shaw, BBA LLB (Hons.), Adamas University, Kolkata
ABSTRACT
This world thrives on the sanctity of liberty and the inviolability of privacy, impervious to any encroachment of authority. Cybercrime is inflicting profound damage on the global economy, undermining national security, eroding social stability, and jeopardizing individual rights and interests. In juridical terms, cybercrime denotes any unlawful activity perpetrated through or involving digital technologies, computer systems, or electronic networks. It encompasses a vast array of criminal conduct, such as synthetic media creation that uses artificial intelligence to manipulate or generate realistic videos or audio, often making it hard to distinguish from real content (deepfake), unauthorized intrusion into computing infrastructures (hacking), the illicit acquisition or breach of sensitive data (data breaches), identity theft, cyber fraud, the distribution of harmful software (malware), and acts of cyberterrorism. This form of criminality exploits electronic platforms to commit offenses that infringe upon individuals' privacy, compromise organizational security, or undermine state interests, thus violating legal provisions concerning privacy rights, intellectual property protections, fraud, and national security. The advent of computers, cell phones and the World Wide Web has changed the world and made it possible for people to commit crimes digitally in a wide range of novel ways. In this paper, my research defines cybercrime in the modern context and explain its relevance in the 21st century. Highlight its borderless nature and how technological advancements have given rise to new forms of cybercriminal activity. This manuscript also identifies the key challenges that cybercrime poses to global security, privacy, and the rule of law, emphasizing how traditional legal frameworks and national borders are increasingly ineffective in addressing these crimes. The main argument or focus of the paper is to comprehend the need for international cooperation, enhanced cybersecurity laws, and stronger enforcement mechanisms to combat cybercrime.
Keywords: Cybercrime, Privacy, Global security, Cybercriminal, Cybersecurity, Technology, Artificial intelligence.
