"Gen Z Internet Users "Normalize" Cybercrime - Report"

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of East London (UEL) has found that a large proportion of young internet users are engaging in some form of cyber-related crimes, including money muling, digital piracy, and posting hate speech.  The research was financed by the bloc's Horizon fund and undertaken in collaboration with Europol's cybercrime center.  It polled 8000 16 to 19-year-olds across the region about 20 types of online behavior.  The researchers found that around half engaged in behavior considered to be criminal in most jurisdictions.  However, Spain (75%) was the country with the highest proportion of "cyber-deviancy," a blend of criminal and risky behavior.  The UK was at the bottom of the nine countries represented in the survey at 58%.  The researchers noted that a third (34%) of participants said they participated in digital piracy, over a quarter (27%) admitted having trolled online and a fifth (22%) said they had incited violence.  Some 18% said they had visited illegal gaming marketplaces, and 12% had been money mules.  The researchers stated that the research indicates that a large proportion of young people in the EU are engaging in some form of cybercrime to such an extent that the conduct of low-level crimes online and online risk-taking has become almost normalized.  

Infosecurity reports: "Gen Z Internet Users "Normalize" Cybercrime - Report"