As Susan W. Bremner explains in Cybercrime and the Law: Challenges, Issues and Outcomes, "since the United States has been dealing with cybercrime for well over two decades, and since the United States is a federal system composed of a single federal government and fifty independent state governments, it generates a great deal of law, at both levels. This means that U.S. cybercrime law is diverse [and] complex..." This section and the following section of this research guide are designed to provide access to these different federal and state agencies legislating and enforcing U.S. cybercrime law.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation: Cyber Crime The FBI is the lead federal agency for investigating cyber attacks by criminals, overseas adversaries, and terrorists. The threat is incredibly serious—and growing. Cyber intrusions are becoming more commonplace, more dangerous, and more sophisticated. Our nation’s critical infrastructure, including both private and public sector networks, are targeted by adversaries. American companies are targeted for trade secrets and other sensitive corporate data, and universities for their cutting-edge research and development. Citizens are targeted by fraudsters and identity thieves, and children are targeted by online predators. Just as the FBI transformed itself to better address the terrorist threat after the 9/11 attacks, it is undertaking a similar transformation to address the pervasive and evolving cyber threat. This means enhancing the Cyber Division’s investigative capacity to sharpen its focus on intrusions into government and private computer networks.
Federal Trade Commission: IdentityTheft.gov IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.
Data Collection: National Computer Security Survey (NCSS) The goal of NCSS is to produce reliable national and industry-level estimates of the prevalence of computer security incidents (such as denial of service attacks, fraud, or theft of information) against businesses and the resulting losses incurred by businesses. The first national survey of thousands of businesses was conducted in 2006. It is cosponsored by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The RAND Corporation is the data collection agent. The NCSS collects data on - - the nature and extent of computer security incidents - monetary costs and other consequences of these incidents - incident details such as types of offenders and reporting to authorities - computer security measures used by companies. |
U.S. Department of Justice: Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) is responsible for implementing the Department's national strategies in combating computer and intellectual property crimes worldwide. CCIPS prevents, investigates, and prosecutes computer crimes by working with other government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and foreign counterparts. Section attorneys work to improve the domestic and international infrastructure - legal, technological, and operational - to pursue network criminals most effectively. The Section's enforcement responsibilities against intellectual property crimes are similarly multi-faceted.
U.S. State Attorney’s Office: Cyber and Intellectual Crimes Division The Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section investigates and prosecutes high-tech crimes, including both cyber-based attacks on the nation’s electronic infrastructure and economic crimes committed using computers, as well as on intellectual property crimes, such as theft of intellectual property and economic espionage. The Central District is home to sensitive government computer installations, a significant high-tech industry, and the motion picture and recording industries. Protecting the security of these industries is a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office, with particular emphasis on investigating and prosecuting sophisticated attacks on computer systems and intellectual property offenses. The Section also prioritizes cyber threats to individuals including cyber stalking, online threats, “sextortion,” and similar crimes. The Section also provides guidance to prosecutors throughout the Office on technological trends. In addition, as a part of the National Security Division, the Cyber AUSAs work in conjunction with attorneys from the Terrorism and Export Control Section on all matters dealing with National Security. The prosecutors in all of their cases, of course, rely on the incredible dedication and expertise of cyber investigators at the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Secret Service. |