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Technology and Crime

 

Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Corey Lewis , U.S. Navy

Technology has been the fulcrum of human knowledge and civilization’s progression over the millennium. Every epoch in history has been significantly defined by the use and current state of technology of its time. In fact, technology is the fruit of the human drive for knowledge. It is the culmination of man’s brilliance and ingenuity. And it has given man significant power and advantage compared to every other creature on the planet. Man’s use of technology has given him power to determine his own future, environment and opened to him a wide array of possibilities.

The Boon of Technology

However, along with the boon of technology comes its bane. It has been placed into inexperienced and unrestrained hand power beyond comprehension. Technology has given mankind much but it in turn has heaped upon humanity, pain, malevolence, conflict and death. These are the two opposing sides of technology. From this we can be certain that technology can yield good and bad. It is all up to its use and application. This is the social issue of the 21st century how much use of technology is too much and to what extent it should technology be availed of.

Evolution of Crime

Crime is as a deviance usually it is prohibited by law, and its commission is punished by the same. Crimes are done for various reasons, although the current state of 21st century society and culture point to social forces as those which compel individuals to commit crimes. Crimes are done by persons who are driven to do it or avail of it as a means to another end entirely. Certain acts of criminality are often undertaken by those who have done it in the past. The propensity for crimes is more apparent in those who have already done so.

In fact, recently a Russian prisoner orchestrated a theft from his jail cell using a mobile phone. Technology’s empowering effect also means it can be employed in crimes. Technology makes crimes easier in terms of carrying them out. Furthermore, crimes have evolved with the progression of technology. The more advanced the technology is the newer, peculiar and the least expected ways of committing crimes are created. This extensively challenges government in terms of law enforcement and crime prevention.

Government Measures

Governments, its law enforcement agencies and its crime prevention units, struggle to contain crimes. These are compounded further by the extensive use of technology in this modern age. Usually commission of crimes using technology often is not differentiated by those without and is sometimes punished similarly. This situation only heightens the use of technology in criminal undertakings.

Tougher measures are required when common day appliance becomes means by which laws are violated, rights hampered and law & order is jeopardized. Moreover, convicts should have highly restricted access to technology, especially those which have communications application.

References:

http://wap.news.bigpond.com/articles/World/2010/10/09/Russian_convict_plots_thefts_from_jail_523693.html

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/pn064.pdf

November 11, 2010 - Posted by ambra | Science & Technology | Concept of Technology, Evolution of Crime, Government Measures, Technology and Crime