Technological Crime

Technological crime refers to the use of computers or other high-tech equipment in the commission of a criminal act. Examples might range from the personal possession of digitized child pornography on a home computer to attacks on whole networks of interconnected computers.

As experts in the forensic investigation of computers and networks, the members of the RCMP's Technological Crime program provide support services to investigators in the RCMP, to other Canadian police services or government agencies, and, in the case of Internet investigations, to any accredited international police service or agency. These support services include:

	collecting evidence through the search, seizure and forensic analysis of computers and other microprocessor-based devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs); and
	providing expert testimony in criminal court proceedings.

At the request of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, members of the RCMP's Technological Crime program also investigate cyber threats, or criminal activity using computer networks, that may threaten one of Canada's critical infrastructures, including:

	energy and utilities such as electrical power, natural gas and oil transmission systems;
	communications such as telecommunications and broadcasting systems;
	services such as financial services, food distribution and health care;
	transportation, including air, rail, marine and surface transportation;
	safety such as nuclear safety, search and rescue, and emergency services; and
	government, including major government facilities, information networks and other assets.

For more information about public safety, please visit the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada website.

The RCMP's Technological Crime program is part of Technical Operations. We provide leadership to RCMP investigators working in the Technological crime program, by researching forensic techniques for investigating computers and by developing and improving investigative utilities and techniques. In addition, we coordinate requests from international police services and agencies for assistance from Canadian investigators specialized in technological crime.

If you are interested ina career investigating technological crime, please consult our Recruiting web page.

If you are the victim of a technological crime, please see For Those Wanting to Report a Crime.