AMMAN — Jordan’s crime rate fell last year, while the
pandemic sparked a rise in cybercrimes, according to a recent study released by
the
Public Security Department.اضافة اعلان
The crime rate fell in 2020 by approximately 14.95 percent
compared to 2019. The number of reported cases in 2020 totaled 22,556 compared
to 26,521 cases in 2019.
According to security experts who spoke to Jordan News,
the
COVID-19 pandemic has increased concerns about cyberattacks targeting
hospitals, companies, food supplies, and other vital sectors.
With the spread of the virus, widespread reliance on
home-based technologies and the wider use of online services, such as video
meetings, online shopping, and the use of applications was an opportunity for
hackers to launch cyberattacks and other online crimes.
The Public Security Department’s spokesperson told Jordan
News that cybercrimes have increased since the pandemic, especially those
related to the spread of rumors, as well as electronic defamation,
cyberbullying, and hate speech.
“The state of cybercrime, like other crimes, has a negative
impact on society and (there are) economic losses as a result of electronic
financial fraud,” he said.
Hussain Khuzaie, a sociologist, told Jordan News that
having more time at home due to the curfew may have led to the increase in
cybercrimes.
“People who commit such crimes have much more free time and
spend this time using the internet,” he explained
The sociologist added that cyber economic crimes were also
prevalent. “This is a result of the hard economic situation, thus the rise in
unemployment and poverty, especially during the pandemic,” he said.
Khuzaie emphasized that people must be more careful when
using the internet and social media. “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes, you
do not want to be in trouble especially in these hard times,” he said.
Retired Brig. Gen. Hashem Al-Majali, told Jordan News that compared to traditional crime, cybercrimes are relatively straightforward
to commit.
Committing a crime used to require that someone uses a car
or other equipment, whereas with “cybercrime, you just sit in your place, and
you will only need your laptop and internet access,” he said.
Majali warned that publishing private pictures and
information over social media platforms may expose anyone to cybercrime and put
them in danger. “The availability of one’s private information at anytime and
anywhere over social media platforms contributed to the increase of
cybercrimes,” he said.
Mohammad Al-Saket, an attorney that specializes in
cybercrimes, told Jordan News that the majority of cybercrime cases he
dealt with were cyber defamation cases involving young people.
“Parents should pay more attention to their children,” he
said. “I get so many cyber defamation cases, and the majority of criminals are
young people who do not really know what they are indulging in.”
“There are restrictive laws that charge those criminals,
they need to be careful.”
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