Unethical Behavior Paper
Throughout history, criminal activity has been a concern for American citizens. But with advancements in technology, the types of criminal activities from the past have changed from breaking-and-entering and robbery at gunpoint, to complete identity theft, fraud, and robbery without lifting a finger via electronic manipulation of banking systems.
To help battle these new criminal activities caused by advancements in technology, Congress passed the “Electronic Funds Transfer Act of 1978”, which establish consumer rights and protections when transferring funds via electronic systems. According to "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation" (n.d.), “the purpose of this title to provide a basic framework establishing the rights, liabilities, and responsibilities of participants in electronic fund and remittance transfer systems. The primary objective of this title, however, is the provision of individual consumer rights” (Electronic Funds Transfer Act). With the establishment of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act of 1978, a new standard was established to protect consumers from theft and illegal monetary transfers from accounts. The act established accountability and liabilities for both consumers and banking institutions to hold parties accountable for funds transfers and illegal accounting activities.
Further measures were taken to restrict criminal activities with the establishment of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. The act establish guidance and identified misuse of electronic systems and computers for criminal activities. According to 99 Congress (1986), “the act governs knowingly and with intent to defraud, accesses a Federal interest computer without authorization, or exceeds authorized access, and by means of such conduct furthers the intended fraud and obtains anything of value, unless the object of the fraud and the thing