Violation of Free Flow of Information in the Process of the Situational Prevention of Cyber Crimes

Abstract

Situational crime prevention techniques are considered as fundamental elements of the cyber security and protection of likely targets from possible criminal attacks. The technological nature of some measures are such that can violate a vast number of fundamental rights, including the free flow of information, and can prevent users from receiving, seeking, and imparting intended contents. International human rights obligations of governments prevent them from the maximum application of preventive measures. However, the security for the sake of public order is accepted to the extent that human dignity can still be guaranteed in areas where possible crimes of this nature may be committed; the whole context should not be determined by security considerations any more than is absolutely necessary. Hence, the application of situational prevention measures is logical and supported to the extent where everyone is some how extent responsible for crime prevention, and users are not deprived of a legitimate right of access to the World Wide Web when the goal is a reduction of potential opportunities for crime. In this article, we evaluate the violation of the right to the free flow of information through the most common measures used to limit or deny access, taking into account on the one hand the fact that extensive application of these measures could also limit the spread of creative ideas of network users while, on the other hand it can safeguard against political and social despotisms.

Keywords

• keywords: situational prevention
• cybercrimes
• free flow of information
• human rights