Applying Routine Activity Theory to Cybercrime: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis

TLDR

Previous theoretical and empirical studies have failed to provide a clear answer regarding the applicability of routine activity theory to cybercrime. The article investigates whether routine activity theory can serve as an analytical framework for cybercrime, aiming to overcome limitations of prior RAT studies. Using a multivariate analysis of 9,161 cases, the study examined how value, visibility, accessibility, and guardianship affect victimization across six cybercrimes. Visibility plays a role, accessibility and personal capable guardianship show varying results, while value and technical capable guardianship have almost no effect; overall, some RAT elements are more applicable than others.

Abstract

The central question of this article is whether routine activity theory (RAT) can be used as an analytical framework to study cybercrimes. Both a theoretical analysis and an analysis of empirical studies have thus far failed to provide a clear answer. The multivariate analysis presented in this article tries to avoid some of the limitations of other RAT-based studies. Based on a large sample (N = 9,161), the effects of value, visibility, accessibility, and guardianship on victimization of six cybercrimes have been studied. Analysis shows some RAT elements are more applicable than others. Visibility clearly plays a role within cybercrime victimization. Accessibility and personal capable guardianship show varying results. Value and technical capable guardianship show almost no effects on cybercrime victimization.