Criminal exploitation of information and communication technologies: Riots

Abstract

The availability, reliability, security of information and telecommunication networks and systems constitute crucial pillars for enhancing standards of living, employment, business and civil society organizations, augmenting their activities and realizing the economic potential of the nation.

The paper addresses the implications of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the organization, coordination, and perpetration of violent unrest. With global trends in ICT developments and the digital population of the world in mind, it analyses their significance in certain phases of unrest.

The results and conclusions stated in the article are reached based on philosophical and ideological, general scientific and special scientific methods and approaches of research: dialectical, formal-logical (analysis and synthesis, induction, and deduction), synchronous comparative legal method and others.

An examination of the use of ICTs during a violent riot emphasizes the following variations of their utilization: a) informational interaction, communication, incitement; b) mobilization of crowd; c) organization of riots; d) allocation of roles; e) coordination.

As of today, an imminently significant challenge arises out from the criminal liability of internet service providers. The dissemination of information on the Internet involves, in addition to the author himself, other entities, in particular the owner of the network information resource, the owner of the server, etc.

Accordingly, the liability of ISPs for failure to restrict access to information containing advocacy, incitement, recruitment or other involvement in the commission of acts of mass unrest on the part of Internet users arises only if they are aware of the social danger of not restricting access to such information, anticipate the dangerous consequences of mass unrest as a direct consequence of such failure and, in so doing, knowingly direct their intellectual and physical efforts towards it.

Keywords—information and communication technologies, riots, organization of riots, incitement to riot, intermediary liability, internet service providers, mob assembly.