Challenges in Identifying Perpetrators in Internet Based Crimes

A recent court decision in the United Kingdom has introduced major challenges in the identification and prosecution of internet based crimes. It was decided that the owner of an IP address cannot be charged as the perpetrator of an internet based crime as it cannot be proven that no other individual could have had access to the internet service. If the owner of the internet service allows another to use their internet, whether through giving permission or unsecured WiFi, the UK court has ruled that they are not responsible for that use.