Public Perception On The Implications Of Cyber Crime On Socioeconomic Development Of Bayelsa State

Public Perception On The Implications Of Cyber Crime On Socioeconomic Development Of Bayelsa State

Chapiter 1

Introduction

1.1 The Study’s Background

Virtually every aspect of human activity has been altered by cyber technology. Because of this, the majority of individuals in modern-day Nigeria own mobile phones with internet access and have accounts on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Yahoo Mail, Google Mail, etc. According to Atte (2018), these internet-based platforms have produced a wide range of possibilities for people to contact and network with people from all over the world as well as aid small local businesses in expanding. Nevertheless, Chiemeke (2008) noted that there have also been certain drawbacks related to cybercrime, despite the advantages of the internet and evolving cyber technology. According to Odumesi (2014), the development of technology and online contacts has led to the rise of criminal activity and an increase in the occurrence of a number of cybercrimes. According to Das and Nayak (2013), cybercrime is a type of criminal behavior that is largely carried out by young people and involves the use of computer systems as tools or conduits for illegal activities.

Digital hacking and denial-of-service attacks are also included. Ibrahim (2016) claims that a cybercrime is any crime committed via a communication device, cyberspace, or the Internet.

Using contemporary telecommunications networks like the internet (Chat rooms, emails, etc.) and mobile phones, cybercrimes also include offenses committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the victim’s reputation or cause physical or mental harm to the victim directly or indirectly (Muraina & Muraina, 2015).

Asokhia (2010) said that the rise in cybercrime has led to a large number of Nigerian youngsters participating in this dynamic crime, placing a significant cost on society as a whole. Evidently, public concern has increased due to the implications and effects on lives and properties. According to Iwarimie (2010), information originating from Nigeria has been deemed questionable as a result of criminal features that make it unreliable, inaccurate, and untrustworthy. In comparison to traditional crimes, technology-supported crimes have more severe effects on the socioeconomic growth of the nation, claims Oluwafemi (2013). In other words, as asserted by Folashade and Abimbola (2013), the internet’s contribution to Nigeria’s progress has been tarnished by the appearance of new waves of cybercrime. In light of the foregoing, the purpose of this study is to determine how the general public views the effects of cybercrime on the socioeconomic growth of Bayelsa State.

1.2 Description Of The Issue

Cybercrime is any illegal activity carried out via computers and the internet. According to Kamini (2011), this kind of crime is committed using a variety of techniques, such as forgery, identity theft, phishing scams, online gambling, theft of intellectual property, cyberdefamation, cyberstalking, denial of service attacks, malicious codes, e-mail bombing, web jacking, internet time theft, etc. Therefore, the implications of this cannot be emphasized. According to Ribadu (2007), cybercrime has detrimental effects on society, including the facilitation of terrorism, money laundering, military espionage, and corruption. It also stunts the socioeconomic and technological advancement of any nation. Notably, Kamini (2011) argues that cybercrime has detrimental and terrible social and economic repercussions because a country with a high crime rate cannot grow or flourish. These consequences are clear in many areas of the Nigerian economy, and because of the nation’s widespread corruption, international investors are permitted to block emails from Nigeria and accept financial instruments with the utmost caution. As a result, Iwarimie (2010) identified the information flow from Nigeria as being dubious due to criminal features that make it unreliable, inaccurate, and untrustworthy. Therefore, the aforementioned serve as the study’s setting.

1.3 Study’s Objective

The overall goal of this study is to determine critically how the public perceives the effects of cybercrime on Nigeria’s socioeconomic progress. The study primarily focuses to;

1. Determine how the general public views the root causes of cybercrime in Nigeria.

2. Find out what the general public thinks about the different types of cybercrime in Nigeria.

3. Determine how cybercrime has impacted Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

1.4 Research Problem

The following query will serve as the study’s compass;

1) What are the reasons behind Nigeria’s cybercrime?

2) What types of cybercrime exist in Nigeria?

3) What impact does cybercrime have on Nigeria’s socioeconomic development?

1.5 Importance Of The Research

The results of this study will aid the Nigerian government in having a thorough understanding of the main causes of cybercrime and its manifestations. More than that, this study will also make people aware of how these public dangers are detrimental to Nigeria’s socioeconomic progress. The federal and state governments of Nigeria, as well as individuals and companies, will all benefit from the recommendations given at the conclusion of the study.

It will also be used as a literature review by later scholars. This implies that other students who might desire to pursue research in this field will have the chance to use this work as available literature that can be critically analyzed. The study’s findings invariably provide a significant contribution to the body of academic knowledge regarding the effects of cybercrime on Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

1.6 Study’s Purpose

The general focus of the study is on public perception and the effects of cybercrime on Nigeria’s socioeconomic development. However, the survey will further determine how the general population views the reasons behind cybercrime in Nigeria. determine how the general public views the different types of cybercrime in Nigeria and what impact they have on the country’s socioeconomic progress. Only Bayelsa State will be included in this analysis.

Limitations of the Study (1.7)

The researcher encountered some obstacles while conducting this study, including time restrictions, budget limitations, language hurdles, and respondents’ attitudes.

There was also the factor of researcher bias. Here, the researcher had some biases that might have been evident in the manner in which the data was gathered, the kinds of people who were interviewed or sampled, and the subsequent interpretation of the data gathered. It is impossible to understate the possibility that all of this will have an impact on the results and conclusions.

The results of this study are also restricted to the sample population in the study area, therefore extrapolating them to other local authorities, states, or other nations may not be appropriate.

1.8 Term Definitions

Crime: This is the deliberate performance of an act that is typically seen as risky or socially destructive.

Cyber technology: This term describes a group of new digital technologies based on soft computing, cloud computing, mobile computing, and emerging media (such as virtual reality, social networks, and multimedia).

Cybercrime is the term for illegal activity committed online or through computers.