RCMP releases cybercrime strategy

The RCMP has released a Cybercrime Strategy, which sets out an operational framework and an action plan to help Canada’s national police service reduce the threat and impact of cybercrime in Canada.

According to a statement earlier this week from the RCMP, the operational framework is supported by three pillars that will guide the RCMP’s efforts: identifying and prioritizing cybercrime threats through intelligence collection and analysis; pursuing cybercrime through targeted enforcement and investigative action; and supporting cybercrime investigations with specialized skills, tools and training. [click image below to enlarge]

In concert with domestic and international partners, the strategy will pursue a 15-point action plan to be implemented by 2020. Among others, action items include the creation of a new investigative team dedicated to combating high-priority cybercrime; establishing a dedicated intelligence unit to identify new and emerging cybercrime threats; improving digital forensic evidence capabilities for cybercrime investigations; and expanding training opportunities for Canadian law enforcement in relation to cybercrime.

“Cybercrime impacts Canada and Canadians in many ways, from Internet scams to attacks on government, financial and private-sector networks,” said RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson in the statement. “The Cybercrime Strategy presents the RCMP’s plan to work collaboratively with its partners to help improve the safety and security of our country and its citizens online.”

The RCMP interprets cybercrime to be any crime where cyber – the Internet and information technologies, such as computers, tablets, personal digital assistants or mobile devices – has a “substantial role in the commission of a criminal offence.”

Cybercrime is broken into two categories: technology-as-target (criminal offences targeting computers and other information technologies, such as those involving the unauthorized use of computers or mischief in relation to data) and technology-as-instrument (criminal offences where the Internet and information technologies are instrumental in the commission of a crime, such as those involving fraud, identity theft, intellectual property infringement, money laundering, drug and/or human trafficking, organized crime or terrorist activities, child sexual exploitation or cyber bullying).

RCMP statistics suggest that cybercrime is increasing in Canada. In 2013, the RCMP received over 4,400 reported incidents of cybercrime: an increase of more than 40% (over 1,300 reported incidents) from 2011. The majority of reported cybercrime incidents involve technology-as-instrument offences, but reported cybercrime incidents involving technology-as-target offences are on the rise, the statement said.

More information on the Cybercrime Strategy is available at http://www.rcmp.gc.ca/pubs/cc-strategy-strategie-cc-eng.htm.