earticle

영어

When is the Internet used maliciously for criminal activity? This study examines the conditions under which the Internet is associated with cybercriminal offense. Using comprehensive state-level data in the United States during 2003-2010, our findings demonstrate that there is no clear empirical evidence that Internet penetration is correlated with the Internet crime perpetrators, though the effects of Internet on cybercriminal activities are contingent upon connection speed and socioeconomic factors. Contrary to narrowband, broadband connections are significantly and positively associated with the Internet crime perpetrators. Strikingly, the moderating effects of socioeconomic status are significant only in the absence of social capital. In U.S. states with low social capital, the Internet crime perpetrators increase with the Internet usage when the local economy grew with more education, less unemployment rate, and less population in poverty. Income inequality there also positively moderates the effects of Internet on cybercrime perpetrators. Some implications to reconcile the conflicting consequences of Internet penetration are discussed.