International Journal of Law And Criminology
72
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijlc
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
PAGE NO.
72-74
10.37547/ijlc/Volume05Issue06-15
Preventive Measures to Combat Cybercrime: A
Criminological Perspective (Educational and Social
Measures, Work with Youth, Development of Digital
Literacy)
Dusmatov Durbek Rustamjon ugli
Tashkent City Prosecutor's Office Prosecutor of the Department in the field of counteraction shadow economy, 2nd class lawyer,
Tashkent city, Uzbekistan
Received:
30 April 2025;
Accepted:
28 May 2025;
Published:
30 June 2025
Abstract:
In the context of society's digitalization, cybercrime is becoming one of the most pressing threats to
public security. This article examines preventive measures to combat cybercrime from a criminological
perspective. Special attention is given to educational, social, and cultural strategies aimed at building societal
resilience
—
particularly among youth
—
against involvement in unlawful online activities.
Keywords:
Cybercrime, criminology, prevention, prophylaxis, digital literacy, youth, social prevention, legal
culture.
Introduction:
Modern digital technologies, on the one
hand, have provided unprecedented opportunities for
communication, education, and commerce; on the
other hand, they have become instruments for
committing new forms of crimes. Cybercrime today
constitutes one of the most rapidly evolving threats to
public security, necessitating not only criminal law
responses but also effective criminological prevention.
According to UN data, cybercrime continues to show
steady growth each year. However, traditional
preventive methods prove to be ineffective due to the
anonymity of cybercriminals, the transnational nature
of offenses, and rapid technological advancements.
Under these conditions, preventive measures gain
critical importance, particularly in the context of youth
engagement and enhancing digital literacy among the
general population.
The information society, while offering vast
opportunities for the development of individuals and
states, has simultaneously given rise to new forms of
criminality. Cybercrime is marked by high latency,
transnationality, and swift evolution. In such
circumstances, the criminological approach
—
focusing
on the prevention of crime
—
becomes particularly
significant. Preventive measures aim not only to
eliminate conditions conducive to crime but also to
foster legal awareness, digital culture, and critical
thinking among citizens.
Criminological prevention is grounded in the principles
of identifying and eliminating the causes and
conditions conducive to crime. Unlike criminal law
measures, which are directed at punishing already
committed offenses, preventive efforts are aimed at
building societal resilience to criminal behavior.
Cybercrime is characterized by several features that
demand a specialized preventive approach:
•
The decentralized nature of threats;
•
The physical detachment of offenders from
their targets;
•
High levels of technical proficiency among
offenders;
•
The widespread involvement of youth in
cybercriminal activity.
Therefore,
cybercrime
prevention
requires
a
multidisciplinary approach that integrates legal,
pedagogical, sociological, and psychological tools.
International Journal of Law And Criminology
73
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijlc
International Journal of Law And Criminology (ISSN: 2771-2214)
Enhancing digital literacy is a key direction in
cybercrime prevention
. Research indicates that groups
with higher IT competence and legal awareness exhibit
significantly lower rates of engagement in unlawful
online activities.
One of the most important preventive measures is the
promotion of digital literacy and legal education.
Studies show that a low level of knowledge regarding
cyber threats and legal liability for online behavior
contributes to the rise of offenses, especially among
young people.
School and university curricula should include:
•
Fundamentals of information security;
•
Legal foundations of online behavior;
•
Digital communication ethics;
•
Skills for identifying fake news, phishing,
cyberbullying, and other online risks;
•
Inclusion of courses on cybersecurity and
digital ethics in school and university programs;
•
Training of teachers and academic advisors to
identify digital risks;
•
Implementation of supplementary educational
programs involving IT professionals and legal experts.
Positive examples of such educational initiatives are
observed in the European Union through the Digital
Education Action Plan, which implements mandatory
cybersecurity modules for students.
Similar approaches are also implemented in the
domestic initiative “Digital Literacy for All” with t
he
support of the Ministry of Digital Development of the
Russian Federation.
Moreover, youth involvement in cybercrime is also
driven by social and psychological factors such as the
desire for recognition, self-assertion, rebellious
attitudes, and a fundamental lack of legal awareness.
Therefore, in addition to educational efforts,
comprehensive programs of social prevention are
required.
Social prevention plays a critical role, aiming to reduce
levels of social tension, marginalization, and
maladjustment, especially among adolescents. Youth
involvement in cybercrime is often motivated not
solely by criminal intent but by social immaturity, a
desire for recognition, or a lack of understanding of the
legal consequences.
Recommended measures include:
•
Establishing youth IT clubs, hackathons, and
forums on digital ethics;
•
Engaging students in ethical hacking and digital
volunteer projects;
•
Providing psychological support to vulnerable
teenagers with deviant behavior;
•
Promoting “digital role models” —
successful IT
specialists, ethical bloggers, and social activists.
Special attention should be paid to families and
educational institutions
as the primary environment
for shaping digital values and legal consciousness.
Criminological data show that the majority of
cybercrimes are committed by individuals aged 14 to
30, due to both technical aptitude and social insecurity.
Proposed directions for youth engagement:
•
Creation of university “cyber patrols” —
student organizations monitoring online offenses and
promoting lawful behavior;
•
Conducting
interactive
lectures
with
participation from police, prosecutors, and cyber
psychologists;
•
Involving youth in digital rights protection
activism;
•
Implementing
gamified
legal
education
methods (quests, simulations, interactive case studies).
This approach aligns with international standards for
juvenile crime prevention as outlined in the UN
Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency
(“The Riyadh Guidelines”).
Cybercrime is a multifaceted issue
, and its prevention
is only possible through coordinated efforts of the
state, businesses, civil society, and academia. Best
results are achieved through:
•
Creation of interagency councils on digital
security;
•
Regular public awareness campaigns on cyber
threats and protection measures;
•
Legal outreach: publications, videos, and social
media content.
In Uzbekistan, the National Strategy for Enhancing
Digital Literacy and Legal Awareness is already being
implemented in cooperation with the UN, OSCE, and
UNICEF.
Thus, preventive measures against cybercrime must
be systemic, based on a scientifically grounded
criminological strategy with a long-term vision
.
Particular emphasis should be placed on youth policy,
digital education, and inter-agency coordination.
Effective prevention requires not only regulatory
mechanisms but also humanitarian efforts aimed at
fostering a digital legal culture as a key factor in
resilience to cyber threats. In conclusion, it is essential
to emphasize that cybercrime prevention policy must
be integrative in nature, combining educational, social,
International Journal of Law And Criminology
74
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijlc
International Journal of Law And Criminology (ISSN: 2771-2214)
cultural, and legal measures. Youth engagement,
development of digital immunity, and moral-legal
orientation are central pillars. Only a comprehensive
approach grounded in criminological research can
ensure a sustainable reduction in cybercrime in the
long run.
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—
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