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The libertarian origins of cybercrime: unintended side-effects of a political utopia

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  • Hofmann, Jeanette

Abstract

Cybercrime and its potential ramifications exemplify 'one of those things that nobody wants' (Popper 1963). From today's perspective it would have been easy to foresee and at least partly prevent the mischief of cybercrime. One therefore wonders what early developers and users of the Internet actually envisioned, and how malpractices such as spreading damaging viruses relate to these visions. This essay approaches this question by interpreting cybercrime as an unintended consequence of the utopian dreams that flourished during the early days of the Internet. In itself a highly innovative activity, cybercrime can be seen as an ironic counterpart to the expectations of an egalitarian cyberspace whose technical and social norms condemned discrimination against any type of applications and uses.

Suggested Citation

  • Hofmann, Jeanette, 2010. "The libertarian origins of cybercrime: unintended side-effects of a political utopia," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 36543, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:36543
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    1. Genschel, Philipp, 1995. "Standards in der Informationstechnik: Institutioneller Wandel in der internationalen Standardisierung," Schriften aus dem Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung Köln, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, volume 22, number 22.
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    JEL classification:

    • H0 - Public Economics - - General

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