When Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1989, it was simply a means of sharing information among scientists at various institutes and universities all over the world. Since then, the Internet has become a priceless tool to retrieve and exchange information, connect with people, learn, access entertainment, shop, and earn money. However, the Internet does have downsides, which are becoming increasingly evident.
The idea of a free and open Internet initially sounded like a good idea, but it quickly became clear that people can take advantage of this tool and harm others. To prevent the improper use of this technology, each country’s government regulates the Internet to control cybercrimes, protect users’ privacy, and prevent access to harmful content. Despite the existence of agencies that regulate the Internet in the United States, cybercrime and cyberbullying are increasing.
According to statistics, cyberattacks increased by 125 percent in 2021. The US was No. 2 in cybercrime victims per million Internet users in 2022 after the UK. In 2021, roughly 50 percent of North Americans who use the Internet were affected by account breaches.
Also in the US, romance scams, confidence fraud, and sextortion are prevalent cyberattacks. Individuals lost an estimated $10.2 billion to cybercrime in 2022 and $6.9 billion in 2021. Globally, the estimated cost of eCommerce fraud in the retail sector is $48 billion. Companies will likely lose $343 billion to online payment fraud between 2023 and 2027.
Financial loss is not the only result of cyberattacks. Having personal data hacked can lead to anxiety, depression, and even PTSD. Victims feel powerless, vulnerable, and frustrated, and these feelings can affect their sleep and energy levels. In extreme cases, data theft has led to work resignations, divorces, and suicides.
With the growth of social media, cyberbullying has increased. From sending hurtful and abusive messages to spreading rumors or posting photos or videos of others without their permission, cyberbullying can take many forms and have lasting effects. According to a study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, 73 percent of teenagers have experienced cyberbullying on social media.
Cyberbullying can affect teenagers mentally, emotionally, and physically. Victims can experience embarrassment, sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts. Such episodes may affect their social life and contribute to difficulty forming relationships and trusting others. They may experience physical effects, such as sleeping issues, headaches, and stomach aches.
Most cybercrimes go unpunished. According to the public policy think tank Third Way, only 0.3 percent of cybercrime complaints are prosecuted. Many obstacles prevent cybercrime prosecution, including limited law enforcement resources and jurisdictional boundaries that make prosecuting criminals in other countries difficult. Further, law enforcement agencies tend to focus on large cybercrime incidents that affect many people or the security of an entire country.
Restore Us Institute (RUI) was created in response to this lack of accountability. RUI is a nonprofit organization that seeks to establish Internet accountability so people can be safe from the dangers of an unregulated Internet. The organization proposes subjecting the Internet and web-based services and technologies to US constitutional authority, treating online offenses the same as offline offenses, and placing the public's well-being above the interests of technology.
