TOPICAL ISSUES OF COUNTERACTING CYBERCRIME IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The beginning of the twenty-first century was characterized by the active development of computer technology. Computer technology plays an important role both in the everyday life of each of us and in the activities of the whole state. It is noted that rapid computerization has led to the emergence of new social relations – relations on the Internet (cyberspace). Cyberspace, in turn, has, in addition to the positive, a number of negative, criminal law characteristics, such as copyright infringement, spread of computer viruses, interference with the operation of information carriers, illegal use of information, and many other traditional and other types of criminal offenses which have been called cybercrime. The author emphasizes that cybercrime is a major problem of our time. The article examines the issues of cybercrime which have developed significantly and have caused serious concern among law enforcement and human rights agencies of many countries.

The article examines the issues of systematic growth of the number of information crimes and the dynamics of their spread. In addition, the systematic spread of virus programs, facts of unauthorized access to cyberspace information resources, and the unlawful theft of important information from databases which are not in the public domain are causing more and more negative consequences and pose a danger to society.

It is noted that one of the threats to national security in the information sphere, according to Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Fundamentals of National Security of Ukraine”, is computer crime and computer terrorism, and the Constitution of Ukraine calls ensuring information security the business of the entire Ukrainian people. In recent years, domestic law enforcement agencies have significantly strengthened their efforts to combat cybercrime. A separate Department for Combating Cybercrime within the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Department for Counterintelligence Protection of the State's Interests in the Field of Information Security of the Security Service of Ukraine, and information security structures within ministries and other executive authorities have been established.