INDIA’S INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT TO UNITE NATIONS

STUDY GUIDE

COMMITTEE: THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL

POLICE ORGANIZATION
AGENDA: CREATING A FRAMEWORK TO REDUCE
CYBERCRIME AMONGST TEENAGERS
 MANDATE
INTERPOL is the acronym for International Criminal Police Organization. It is an
organisation comprising 195 member countries, that regulates the action taken on
international crime. It is an inter-governmental organisation1. The member countries share
their data on crimes and criminals, and with the help of several technical and operational
support, the aim of the organisations is to establish peace and provide justice. The
Secretary General of INTERPOL is Mr Jürgen Stock from Germany. The headquarters of
the INTERPOL is in Lyon, France.

Every member country has an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) office that
provides the medium to contact the other NCBs over borders. The NCB office of a country
is run by local authorities and national police officials and falls under the responsibility of
the Central Government.

INTERPOL deals with crime including- corruption, counterfeit currency and documents,
crimes against children, cultural heritage crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking,
environmental crime, financial crime, firearms trafficking, human trafficking, illicit goods,
maritime crime, organised crime, people smuggling, terrorism, vehicle crime, war crimes.

INTRODUCTION
Over the last 15 years, IT (Information Technology) has greatly transformed the world,
especially in terms of communication and social interaction. Nowadays, there is a rapid
increase in the reports of harassment, fear, violence, etc. being experienced through IT.
Hacking, spamming, identity theft, child pornography, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking
are just a few examples of cyber-crimes.
Cybercrime is a term used to address the activities performed through IT for any criminal
purposes. It can comprise a diversity of 1) anti-social activities, such as those supported by
computers (e.g., sending spam, malware) and 2) offences aimed at a specific target (e.g.,
cyberstalking, cyberbullying) (Kim, Jeong, Kim & So, 2011). To accomplish cyber-crime
activities, there are a variety of manipulation techniques (e.g., bribe, threat) and different

1
Inter-governmental organisation means when 2 or more nations come together to work on good causes and
common interests.
ways through which Internet users can find themselves involved in risky behaviours (e.g.,
contact with strangers, the sharing of personal information) (Whittle, Hamilton-Giachritsis,
Beech & Collings, 2013).

Cybercrime and teenagers

Cybercrime involving teenagers is a concerning issue in today's digital age. Teenagers are
both potential victims and perpetrators of cybercrimes. Teenagers today have greater
access to technology and the internet than ever before, and while most use these resources
responsibly, some engage in illegal or harmful online activities and some others fall prey to
these online crimes. As children, especially teenagers have huge access to the internet and
are exposed to a large amount of technology, they are also vulnerable to huge cybercrimes.
The forms of cybercrimes that they can face include bullying, harassment, identity theft,
fraud, and other online dangers that can harm children's mental and emotional health. Also,
cybercrime leads to higher risks such as addiction to cyberbullying, sexual solicitation, and
child pornography, which results in negativity in youth. So, it is important to educate them
about cybercrimes. It is important to prevent cyber crimes. It's important to recognize that
many teenagers who engage in cybercrime may not fully understand the consequences of
their actions. Early education and intervention are key to addressing this issue and helping
teenagers make responsible choices when it comes to technology and the Internet.
Cybercrimes involving teenagers can have long-lasting emotional and psychological
effects, both on victims and perpetrators. It's important to address these issues with
empathy and provide support to those affected. Cyberbullying can lead to severe mental
health issues, including depression and anxiety. It's essential to provide resources and
support for those who are victims of cyberbullying. Teens engaging in cybercrimes may
face legal consequences, which could include fines, probation, or even jail time, depending
on the nature and severity of the offence.

Challenges and obstacles

In recent years, the internet has become a place where many traditional crimes prosper in
many complex forms. Due to this, many criminal offences which previously required
physical presence are now performed through computers, etc. irrespective of date, time and
location. Preventing cyber crimes isn’t easy. There are many challenges faced in
preventing cyber crimes. One such challenge includes a lack of awareness. People are
unaware of their cyber rights. Cyber crimes mostly happen with illiterate people around
the world who are not aware of the cyber rights given to them by their government.
Another challenge faced is Anonymity. The people who commit such crimes are
anonymous and this also makes it hard to trace them down and directly attack the source of
inconvenience. Moreover, people do not file their complaints. There are fewer cases
registered. Every country in the world faces the challenge of cybercrime and the rate of
cybercrime is increasing day by day because of the people who don't even register a case
of cybercrime this is a major challenge for us as well as for authorities as well. The person
who commits cyber crime is very technical so he knows how to commit the crime and not
get caught by the authorities. The punishments awarded for cyber crimes are not severe as
compared to others in every case. Provisions of severe punishments are listed in the case
when somebody commits cyber terrorism in that case there is harsh punishment for that
individual. But in other cases, there is no harsh punishment so this factor also encourages
the person who commits cyber crime. The absence of a tough punishment indirectly
promotes cybercrime.

Social media and cybercrime

Social media connections pose another cyber security risk because user engagement —
likes, shares, and comments — exposes relationships useful to cybercriminals attempting
fraudulent activity, such as phishing, spoofing, and impersonation, which means
pretending to be someone else for entertainment or fraud. Even though a person has hidden
their information such as, location, their interests, etc., a one-time analysis of their profile
can give the hackers all the information they need to perform a crime.

HISTORY
The history of cybercrime since 2000 has been marked by a steady increase in the
frequency, sophistication, and severity of attacks. This is due to several factors, including
the widespread adoption of the Internet and mobile devices, the growth of e-commerce and
online banking, and the increasing reliance on digital infrastructure by businesses and
governments. Countless smaller-scale cybercrimes occur every day, such as phishing
scams, identity theft, and credit card fraud. Cybercrime can have a significant impact on
teenagers, both psychologically and emotionally. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to
cybercrime because they are more likely to share personal information online and to use
social media extensively. They are also more likely to be unaware of the dangers of
cybercrime and to fall victim to scams. Teenagers can also be affected by cybercrime in
more general ways. For example, teenagers who are victims of cybercrime may experience
anxiety, depression, and social isolation. They may also have difficulty concentrating in
school and maintaining relationships. The history of cybercrime involving teenagers is a
relatively recent development in the context of the broader history of cybercrime. As
technology has advanced, teenagers have become increasingly involved in various forms
of cybercrime. In the early days of the internet, many teenagers engaged in relatively
harmless acts of digital vandalism, such as defacing websites, spreading viruses, or
engaging in script kiddie activities where they used pre-made hacking tools to compromise
systems. During the 2000s, there were several high-profile cases of teenagers engaging in
cybercrimes. One of the most known examples includes the case of Adrian Lamo, who
hacked into major corporations and government systems at a young age. Since early 2000
teenagers have been involved in various forms of social engineering attacks and phishing
schemes, where they manipulate individuals or trick them into revealing sensitive
information or login credentials. The advent of social media and online communication
platforms has given rise to cyberbullying, with many teenagers becoming both victims and
perpetrators of online harassment and bullying. Teenagers have also been involved in
sexting, where they share explicit images or messages, sometimes without consent, leading
to legal and privacy issues. Some teenagers have joined hacktivist groups and participated
in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or website defacements for political or
ideological reasons. While others participate in online scams, including identity theft and
fraudulent schemes, which can have significant legal and financial consequences. These
are examples of cybercrime activities involving teenagers through the pages of history. The
cybercrime involving teenagers in recent past involves cyberbullying which is an umbrella
term that refers to various types of online harassment, such as stalking and sexual
harassment.

CURRENT SCENARIO
Today, the world is more digitally connected than ever before. Criminals take advantage of
this online transformation to target weaknesses in online systems, networks and
infrastructure. There is a massive economic and social impact on governments, businesses
and individuals worldwide. Phishing, ransomware and data breaches are just a few
examples of current cyber threats, while new types of cybercrime are emerging all the
time. Cybercriminals are increasingly agile and organised – exploiting new technologies,
tailoring their attacks and cooperating in new ways. Cybercrimes know no national
borders. Criminals, victims and technical infrastructure span multiple jurisdictions,
bringing many challenges to investigations and prosecutions.

Current statistics and trends

92% of teens report going online at least once a day, and 56% admit they go online several
times a day which means only 8% of teens can resist going online every day. The global
cyber security landscape has seen increased threats in recent years especially against
teenagers. Through the pandemic, cyber criminals which include a large number of
teenage individuals took advantage of misaligned networks as businesses moved to remote
work environments. In 2020, malware attacks increased 358% compared to 2019. From
here, cyber attacks globally increased by 125% through 2021, and increasing volumes of
cyber attacks continued to threaten businesses and individuals in 2022. The cybercrime
reported against teenagers has increased 15 times in the last 5 years. More than 400 per
cent increase in cybercrime cases committed against children was reported in recent times.
Cyberbullying has been identified as the most concerned issue over the years in the case of
cybercrime against teenagers. More than a third of young people in 30 countries report
being cyberbullied, with 1 in 5 skipping school because of it. 80% of children in 25
countries report feeling in danger of sexual abuse or exploitation online. In June this year,
UK authorities tracked down and arrested two people suspected of the ring leading the
largest international English-speaking online cyber-criminal forum. They were charged
with stealing and selling the details of 65,000 bank accounts they had ransacked from
computers infected with malware. They had sold the details at varying prices according to
their origin, with US bank details going for $3, EU bank details for $5 and UK bank
details for $7. The leaders are two teenagers aged 17 and 18 years respectively. In a recent
survey conducted by Tufin Technologies, an online security company, it was found that
roughly one in six teenagers in the US, and one in four teenagers in the UK, had tried their
hand at some form of internet hacking.
 PROPOSED SOLUTION
Countering cybercrime against teenagers requires a combination of proactive measures
involving parents, educators, law enforcement, and technology companies. Here are some
suggested solutions:
1. One of the first steps to counter cybercrime against teenagers is education. Teenagers
need to be taught about the different types of cybercrime, how to identify them, and
how to protect themselves. This education should start at home and continue in school.
Parents can talk to their teenagers about cybercrime and help them to understand the
risks. They can also teach them how to create strong passwords, be careful about what
information they share online, and spot phishing scams. Schools can also play a role in
educating teenagers about cybercrime. They can offer classes on cybersecurity and
incorporate cyber safety lessons into other subjects, such as computer science and social
studies.
2. To raise awareness and educate teenagers about cybercrime, governments, schools, and
non-profit organizations can launch extensive cybersecurity awareness campaigns
specifically targeting this demographic. These campaigns should be engaging, relatable,
and designed to capture the attention of teenagers. Public service announcements,
interactive websites, social media initiatives, and workshops can all be part of a
comprehensive effort to reach teenagers and encourage responsible online conduct.
Using popular social media platforms and influencers can also be an effective way to
disseminate information.
3. In parallel to this, legal measures should be enhanced. Governments can enact and
enforce stricter laws and penalties for those who commit cyber crimes against
teenagers. These laws should take into account the unique nature of digital crimes,
including cyberbullying, sexting, and online harassment, and should provide clear
guidelines on how these cases are to be handled in the legal system. An expedited and
efficient response system is necessary. Law enforcement agencies should prioritize
cases involving teenagers and ensure that victims are supported and informed
throughout the process. This includes connecting victims with resources such as
counselling and legal support.
4. Another important step is to provide teenagers with clear and accessible reporting
mechanisms for online incidents. Law enforcement agencies should maintain
anonymous reporting hotlines, email addresses, or web portals dedicated to cybercrimes
 against minors. This approach ensures that victims and concerned individuals can report
incidents without fear of retaliation.

BLOC POSITIONS
India
India is rapidly progressing in its digital goals with missions like “Make in India” and
Digital India having a positive effect across the economy. But its dependence on
interconnected networks and systems means that cyber security is a challenge. As one of
the most attacked countries in cyberspace, India’s resilience in cybersecurity is key to
safeguarding critical assets. Both the private sector and government agencies now provide
digital service delivery mechanisms, creating a synergy of efforts. The impact is
impressive. In 2021, India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) handled 39 billion
transactions amounting to $940 billion – more than 30% of the country’s GDP. In 2020-21,
digital payment systems in India recorded a robust growth of 26.2% in volume. Such rapid
digitalization also leads to a critical dependence on the resilience of interconnected
networks and systems. Any successful cyberattack on a critical asset such as a power grid
will have a multiplier effect, crippling communications, transportation and even
endangering the health and safety of citizens. The government and private sector are
acutely aware of these threats, the capabilities, and motivations of adversaries. In the last
decade, several concrete measures and steps have been taken to prevent, detect and
mitigate the ill effects of cyberattacks.

France
France is one of the most active countries in the world in the fight against cybercrime. It
has several laws in place to address cybercrime, including the French Criminal Code and
the Law on the Orientation and Programming of Internal Security. It also has several
specialized law enforcement agencies that deal with cybercrime, including the Central
Office for the Fight against Cybercrime (OCLCTIC) and the Gendarmerie's National
Center against Cybercrime (CNcyber). France has also taken several specific steps to
address specific cybercrime threats. For example, in response to the growing threat of
ransomware attacks, the French government has established a national ransomware
response team. The team is responsible for coordinating the response to ransomware
attacks and providing support to victims. France is also working closely with other
countries to combat cybercrime. It is a member of several international organizations that
are working to develop and implement shared policies and strategies. For example, France
is a member of the European Union's Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol)
and the Organization of American States (OAS).

United Kingdom
To address the UK’s cyber security challenges, the Government plans to: Establish a
cross-government programme, with additional funding to address the following priority
areas in pursuit of the UK’s strategic cyber security objectives: − Safe Secure & Resilient
Systems − Policy, Doctrine, Legal and Regulatory issues − Awareness & Culture Change −
Skills & Education − Technical Capabilities & Research and Development − Exploitation
− International Engagement − Governance, Roles and Responsibilities. Work closely with
the wider public sector, industry, civil liberties groups, the public and international
partners; Set up an Office of Cyber Security (OCS) to provide strategic leadership for and
coherence across Government; Create a Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) to: −
actively monitor the health of cyberspace and co-ordinate incident response; − enable
better understanding of attacks against UK networks and users; − provide better advice and
information about the risk to business and the public.

Russia
When asked about which age category was more exposed to online crimes in Russia,
teenagers were revealed as the most preferred victims. Russia is home to the most
advanced cybercriminal groups in the world with most of its hackers coming from teen-age
groups. The rules for Russian hackers who are mainly teenagers are simple: Don’t hack
Russian-language sites; don’t say no if the Kremlin or the FSB security agency ask for a
favour; and share the loot when requested. Hackers who follow these rules will never go to
jail in Russia. Russia has little interest in cooperating with other nations to rein in
criminals, and there is little or no incentive for Russia to cooperate with foreign law
enforcement. Russia was the leading source of cybercrime long before the current
ransomware plague. Hacking tools, stolen personal information, fake websites for fraud
and phishing scams, zero-day exploits and software vulnerabilities are available in thriving
black markets organized on social media. Some groups even use artificial intelligence tools
for better hacking.
The United States of America
The Department of Homeland Security's Cyber Safety Review Board has often
recommended that Congress explore funding juvenile cybercrime prevention programs that
could help steer young people away from illegal hacking and other online crimes. To
counter this The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC program)
helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to
technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. This
help encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance,
victim services, and community education. The ICAC program was developed in 1998, in
response to an ever-increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, an
ever-increasing number of online images depicting child sexual abuse, and an
ever-increasing amount of online activity by people seeking to contact and exploit children
and teens. Since 1998, ICAC task forces—comprising 61 task forces of 5,230 federal,
state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies throughout the 50 states—have
reviewed 7 million reports of online child exploitation, resulting in the arrest of more than
134,000 people. ICACs have conducted nearly 194,000 presentations on Internet safety.

SUGGESTED MODERATED CAUCUS TOPICS

1. Discussing ways to educate teenagers about the risks and responsibilities of online
behaviour.
2. Discussing policies that can support parents in ensuring their children's online safety.
3. Discussing the need for stronger legislation to address cyberbullying, online
harassment, and child exploitation.
4. Preparing an international framework to reduce cybercrime amongst teenagers.
5. Discussing the role of social media platforms in cyber crimes amongst teenagers.
6. Analysing the impact of cybercrime amongst teenagers.
7. Discussing the role of mental health resources in addressing the emotional impact of
cybercrime.
8. Discussing ways to improve existing reporting tools on social media platforms.
9. Discussing the types of cybercrime and existing legislations present agasint the same.
10. Discussing how youth advocacy can influence policies and regulations related to
online safety.

RESEARCH LINKS
(Note: Delegates, some of the links are only meant for light reading and thus are not
highlighted, only refer to the highlighted sources as valid proof as others may or may not
be accepted as a source of proof in the Council. The decision of the Presiding Officer in
regards to the acceptable sources is final and Binding.)

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escents_Bridges_between_a_Psychological_and_a_Design_Approach#:~:text=Hac
king%2C%20spamming%2C%20identity%20theft%2C,few%20examples%20of%
20cyber%2Dcrimes.
2. https://securityintelligence.com/articles/why-teens-become-cyber-criminals/
3. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/cyber-crime/
4. https://www.upguard.com/blog/the-impact-of-social-media-on-cybersecurity#:~:tex
t=Exposure%20to%20a%20user's%20social,potential%20identity%20fraud%20or
%20theft.
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y#:~:text=Cybersecurity%20is%20crucial%20because%20it,information%20syste
ms%20are%20all%20included.
7. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/266990702.pdf
8. https://www.gapinterdisciplinarities.org/res/articles/(18-24)%20CRIME%20AGAI
NST%20CHILDREN%20IN%20CYBER%20SPACE%20IN%20INDIA%20A%2
0SNAPSHOT.pdf
9. https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/CyberSafety_English_Web_0312201
8_0.pdf
10. https://infosecawareness.in/cyber-laws-of-india
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#:~:text=The%20US'%20National%20Security%20Strategy,cyberspace%20t
hrough%20%22robust%20collaboration%22.
13. https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2021/INTERPOL-report-i
dentifies-top-cyberthreats-in-Africa
14. https://lawcorner.in/brief-history-of-cybercrime/
15. https://cybernews.com/editorial/teen-cyber-cartels/
16. https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2017/03/hacking-through-the-years-a-brief-
history-of-cyber-crime/
17. https://www.thesslstore.com/blog/teen-hackers-cybercrime-teen-rebellion-aint-wha
t-it-used-to-be/
18. https://www.welivesecurity.com/2022/02/22/teenage-cybercrime-stop-kids-wrong-
path/
19. https://cybersecurityventures.com/the-history-of-cybercrime-and-cybersecurity-194
0-2020/
20. https://securityintelligence.com/articles/why-teens-become-cyber-criminals/