Crimes Committed Using Information and Telecommunication Networks: Prospects for Legislative Reforms

The article is devoted to the analysis of changes and trends in the criminal legislation of Russia concerning crimes committed using information and telecommunication technologies (ICT). It is noted that with the increasing number of such crimes, there is a need to improve the legislative framework for the adequate prosecution of offenders, as well as to increase the level of social danger of these acts. The author pays attention to various changes in the criminal Code, in particular, the introduction of new articles that fix responsibility for illegal actions with personal data. Thus, Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishes responsibility for the illegal use and dissemination of information with personal data. In the process of analysis, an attempt is made to classify crimes using ICT, which is important for understanding the entire system of criminal offenses in this area. In addition, the heterogeneity of legislative formulations is considered, which leads to difficulties in law enforcement and qualification of crimes. The author concludes that despite the difficulties associated with definitions and classifications, the author suggests a further trend towards including the use of ICT in crimes. Nevertheless, critically assessing the linking of this feature with the stages of preparation for a crime, it is emphasized that it is necessary to avoid unjustifiably increasing responsibility for acts committed without the use of ICT.