Engaging with the digital marketplace has brought numerous advantages in today’s world. Nonetheless, the rise in connectivity has also led to an increase in dubious and illegal activities, triggering a new wave of crime that the Pacific region is often slow to address.
A recently released report titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges and Impact,” compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlights these concerns.
Among its alarming findings, the report identifies a range of cyber-related crimes, including child sex tourism and romance scams facilitated through social media platforms.
“While the rate of smartphone adoption, internet access, and affordability in the Pacific is not as high as in other parts of the world, growth in these areas is evident,” the report notes.
The increasing complexity of cyber crimes has led to challenges for local law enforcement agencies, necessitating government assistance to help these agencies develop the necessary skills to effectively combat evolving cyber threats.
Child grooming, sex tourism, abuse, and exploitation are critical concerns highlighted in the report. Known for its appealing landscapes, the Pacific serves as a prime tourist destination, which unfortunately also facilitates criminal activities such as child sex tourism.
The UNODC report indicates that these crimes are often coordinated through online channels. For instance, “In Samoa, facilitators maintain contact with international perpetrators and parents, who serve as intermediaries via the internet,” it states.
Moreover, the exploitation and abuse of children occur in illegal brothels, local hotels, and yachts in Fiji, where traffickers leverage websites and mobile apps to promote commercial sexual exploitation.
The report emphasizes that the risk of Online-facilitated Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA), which includes the creation and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), extends beyond financial scams and poses significant threats to children. The report warns that children remain at constant risk of grooming, harassment, and OCSEA globally due to the private nature of their internet use, a situation exacerbated in the Pacific by a lack of parent awareness regarding these hazards.
Another concerning aspect noted in the report is the phenomenon of “faceless” criminals, who often target vulnerable populations without facing consequences for their actions. Data reveal that in Fiji and Papua New Guinea, users are more likely to own smartphones than computers, creating new vulnerabilities.
The prevalence of digitally isolated citizens means they are increasingly susceptible to being targeted by an international marketplace of criminals who employ social media to engage in scams, fraud, and extortion.
Despite efforts from law enforcement agencies to raise awareness about cyber hygiene and internet safety, many cases of scam victims continue to emerge. Reports of cyberbullying, harassment, and online fraud remain common. The intertwining relationship between technology and crime poses growing risks, particularly in regions that were previously less reliant on such technologies.
The UNODC report also indicates a rise in cyberattacks targeting national infrastructures in the Pacific, citing incidents such as the 2019 cyberattacks on the Supreme Court and national courts of Papua New Guinea, and attacks on Fiji’s GovNet system in 2021.
The occurrence of cyberattacks is presumed to be more frequent than reported, with significant concerns surrounding the impact of cyber-enabled crimes and the use of modern technologies to facilitate traditional criminal activities.
The report notes that while some Pacific countries, particularly Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea, have implemented national cybercrime laws, there is still a considerable stigma around reporting crimes, especially sexual offenses, which may hinder effective oversight and action against OCSEA.
The document calls for enhanced data collection methods to better equip governments and law enforcement agencies to address these evolving cyber threats effectively.