Effectiveness of laws combating cyber crimes

Abstract

The continuous advancement of technology has directly impacted the legal world, especially with the rise in the practice of cyber crimes. The widespread use of the internet, which expanded after the pandemic, has highlighted new legal conflicts and challenges, particularly regarding the collection of evidence and the identification of those responsible for such offenses. With increased internet access, virtual crimes have become more common and often result in personal and material damages. This study briefly explored the alleged (in)effectiveness and impunity associated with cyber crimes, as well as the difficulties in identifying their perpetrators. The lack of specific regulations to adequately punish certain behaviors in the virtual environment exacerbates this issue. The main objective of the study was to examine the possible impunity of cyber crimes and discuss the legal implications of this phenomenon within the Brazilian legal system. Specific goals include analyzing the concepts and legal nature of cyber crimes, reviewing relevant legislation and legal doctrine, and exploring proposals to improve the punitive system. The relevance of this research is justified by the growing debate surrounding the punishment of virtual crimes, which represent a serious social problem in the digital context.