Challenges in investigating Cybercrime in social networks: A Sri Lankan Perspective

Abstract

With the explosive growth of social networks, the modern society has found itself in the midst of a transformation from pre-social network age to a new world where social networks influence everything from democratic processes such as elections to the mental health of the members of the society. While arguing the net cost and benefits of social networks are out of the scope of this case study, we will argue that social networks have introduced a new threat surface that challenges the current status quo on legal protection and investigative techniques on citizens. These challenges equally affect citizens who request justice and protection, and people who are hiding and avoiding law enforcement. From the perspective of a developing nation, especially a nation that does not host any technical infrastructure for any leading social network companies, this work presents challenges Sri Lanka could face and discuss their impact on law enforcement investigations. We believe this case study will open up discussions on the proper legal framework to support future investigations.