ABSTRACT
There are a number of high-profile cases involving individuals with ASD who have been charged and/or convicted of cybercrime (e.g., Lauri Love, Gary McKinnon). Common cybercrime activities include: hacking, virus writing, identity-theft and cyberbullying. Despite this, there has been relatively little research empirically exploring individuals with ASD (or ASD traits) in relation to cybercrimes, such as hacking. This chapter will review the research which has explored ASD and cybercrime and also discuss two high profile cases involving individuals with ASD who were convicted of cybercrime offences. It will also explore the appeal of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and the internet for individuals with ASD. Lastly, this chapter includes a case study by Higham, Piracha and Crocombe (2016) which illustrates the high risks that can happen when the internet is used as the main forum for interaction in individuals who are socially impaired.
