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White Paper: The Effects of the COVID-19 Response on Criminal Network Activity and Investigations

Jun 2020

  • White Paper

Criminal organizations are like organisms in the sense that they respond to environmental changes. Like any organism, these adaptations aim to ensure survival when threatened, but also attempt to exploit unexpected opportunities.

The spread of COVID-19 in the winter of 2019 and spring of 2020 and the associated response actions taken by governments, companies, and individuals represent a significant environmental change for many organisms, including networked criminal organizations. Read the full white paper.

Authors

  • Jim Jones
  • David Weisburd
  • Louise Shelley
  • Joe DiZinno
  • Eduard Hovy
  • Mary Ellen O’Toole
  • Allison Redlich
  • Anthony Stefanidis
Publication Download

Topics:

  • Dark web
  • Gangs
  • Innovation and Technology
  • Money laundering
  • Networks
  • Social media
  • Social networks

Research Areas:

  • Criminal network analysis
  • Dark web
  • Dynamic patterns of criminal activity
  • Financial crime
  • Gang networks
  • Human trafficking
  • Illicit supply and value chains
  • Network analytics

*The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

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