What Is Cyber-Law?

Protecting Yourself from Cyber Law Problems in the Future

Many people do not think about whether or not something is illegal before they post it online or share it with their friends–most do not take the internet seriously enough to give it more than a passing thought, but posting the wrong thing online is just the beginning when it comes to criminal charges being brought against you for your web-based actions.

Laws are changing every day when it comes to the internet, and paying attention to cyber law is a good idea for any globalizing business owner or individual who works over the web.

But because the internet encompasses not just your local community but also the global community as well, this can lead to legal problems over the web cropping up not just in your country of residence, but also in other places across the world. Not just any attorney can handle the intricate and time-consuming facets of a cyber law case–and choosing the wrong one can have serious consequences for your future and your freedom.

Because cyber law is so complicated, you’ll need an expert attorney who is able to handle these types of complex cases. Thankfully, Bukh Global was created with just this type of situation in mind, and our experienced lawyers are always on hand to assist clients with even the most complex of cyber law cases.

What Is Cyber Law?

Cyber law is the legal classification that concerns legal issues and the Internet, specifically laws that protect consumers and penalize criminals for illegal actions online. Cyber law covers a wide-ranging area of legal practice, including many subtopics such as freedom of speech, internet censorship, net neutrality, and cybercrime.

It is one of the newest areas of law to be added to many legal systems, as it only became pressing with the advent of the internet.

Some crimes involving the Internet are performed by an expert hacker who breaks into a person’s private bank accounts and credits cards and steals their private information or data. It can be a single person or group of individuals who may be malevolent with the intent to destroy or otherwise corrupt the computer data files or who simply want to sell the data gathered or use it for their own bad deeds.

Other crimes, such as sharing someone’s personal or private photos without their consent, can be committed without even realizing that this type of crime falls under the purview of cyber law, but that does not mean that you are safe from prosecution or civil charges. Contacting a lawyer should be your first reaction to any cyber charges that may crop up against you–do not try to handle this alone.

Cyber-laws were created to protect people and business entities from criminals or others on the Internet to ensure that businesses can function and people can speak and transact freely. T

his is why it is best to consult with an attorney who is an expert in the field if you think you might have committed a cybercrime or one has been committed against you–especially in the United States, cybercrime is taken extremely seriously by the FBI, and even lesser charges like defamation can land you in hot water as well.

Types of Cyber Law

While cyber law encompasses a wide swath of different charges, ranging from serious criminal actions to more minor civil cases, there are a few common charges that crop up regularly in the context of crime over the web.

Crimes Against People – This category of cyber law encompasses any crime that damages a person, such as online fraud and phishing scams. Defamation, libel, and other charges may damage businesses and cause severe issues down the line. More serious crimes like human trafficking also fall under this category of cyber law as well.

Crimes Against Property – Crimes against property are anything that damages a property or corporation. While most people are familiar with hacking, other crimes like DDOS attacks, cybersquatting, and copyright and IP infringement are lesser-known types of crimes against property.

Crimes Against Government – The most serious of these 3 types of cyber law are crimes against government, such as espionage, cyber terrorism, and ransoming information. Crimes against governments will typically fall under federal jurisdiction and can come with severe penalties–in the United States, an accusation of federal cybercrime may land you in jail for the rest of the foreseeable future, so take these types of accusations extremely seriously.

Legal Penalties Associated With Cyber Law

If you have been accused of breaking cyber law, you may be hit with swift and harsh penalties for your online actions. The severity of charges will depend upon the circumstances, as well as the entities or persons that may have been harmed.

We’ve listed a few of the penalties associated with breaking common cyber laws in the United States to give you an idea of how serious these charges can be.

DDOS Attacks – DDOS attacks are one of the most common ways that online trolls and hackers use to shut down websites, but this can lead to serious legal penalties depending upon what state it was committed in and whether this crime crosses state or national lines. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a federal act with guidelines against this type of crime, deems that a person can be sentenced to up to 10 years for each attempt.

Fraud and Phishing – Being convicted of “phishing” for someone’s personal information can carry different penalties in different states, but much of the time this felony charge can land you in prison for up to 5 years.

Cybersecurity – Medical practitioners are moving more towards the digital age and this may lead to HIPAA hiccups and breaking cybersecurity laws. This can come along with stiff penalties–for instance, breaking HIPAA laws can come along with up $50,000 in penalties for each record that has been breached.

Hire An Experienced Lawyer To Help You Understand Cyber Law

If you are dealing with any issues related to cyber law, Bukh Global Partners is here to assist you in clearing the air and ensuring that your legal needs are taken care of. Our experienced team is knowledgeable in many different areas of legal specialization and we will work hard to find the right practitioner for your needs.

Contact us today if you have any questions or concerns regarding your cyber law case.