In contemporary society many individuals believe that the advancements in technology can reduce crime rates, as technology can prevent and solve crimes in an easier way. While acknowledging that the growth of technology can promote safety and security, I disagree with that idea, since technology can be exploited by cybercriminals.
On the one hand, technology’s advancements can foster crime prevention and crime-fighting systems. AI-power surveillance cameras and facial recognition systems can help investigators solve cases faster. In many developed countries, such as China, many CCTV cameras and real-time alerts have been installed on the roads. This can facilitate the pace of identifying processes, as those alerts can immediately inform police officers about any assault, vandalism, or criminal actions; and the cameras help them easily identify potential suspects. Furthermore, those factors can make people think twice before trying to commit a crime, because they are more likely to be arrested through the evidence that technology can provide.
On the other hand, the growth of technology also leads to new types of crime. Some criminals can take advantage of the vulnerabilities of technology to commit cybercrimes. In other words, these cybercriminals can create sophisticated hacking software to launch financial crimes without any physical confrontation or they can even commit crimes in other nations. This is extremely common among people who are not digital natives. In Vietnam, many senior citizens have lost millions due to the lack of technological information. Moreover, cybercriminals also expose residents’ private information, such as private stories or passwords. As a result, I believe that the advancements in technology can result in paranoia among citizens rather than promoting safety and security.
In conclusion, although crimes can be prevented and solved in an easier way with the growth of technology, I believe that this can also facilitate new types of crime since criminals can draw on its vulnerabilities.