The Hack_Right program that aims to help young hackers avoid criminality in cyberspace and use their skills for good, is now supported by 20 companies.
The program is aimed at young people who were convicted for the first time for some criminal activity in cyberspace. It is an alternative solution to traditional imprisonment.
The experiment, which began in 2018 and is an initiative of the Dutch and UK police, focuses on people aged 12 to 23 and is structured around four modules (recovery, training, guidance, alternative) tailored to each individual to help them stay on the good side of the law.
At the meeting “Partners in Crime” (Partners in Crime) that took place in Woerden, Netherlands, almost 20 companies signed a letter for their participation in the program.
The list includes as large names are added from various sectors. Among them are large cyber‑surveillance companies such as Fox‑IT, Secura, Qbit, Northwave, S‑unit, Access42, DIVD and Zerocopter.
Companies from the financial sector such as Volksbank, ING, Deloitte, ABN‑Amro, Rabobank and Summito also showed interest in supporting the program as well as companies from other sectors (telecommunications services, management services, etc.)
In the Netherlands, the pilot program Hack_Right runs with the support of the Dutch police, the Probation service, the child protection council, and the prosecutor's office.
According to data from the prosecutor's office, about 70 individuals aged between 12 and 23 are arrested each year for cybercrimes. However, this number is likely higher, as not all young cyber offenders have been apprehended.
At the moment, the program has about 20 participants, which on average amount to 10 people per year, according to Floor Jansen of the High Tech Crime team of the National Police of the Netherlands.
About ten per year, but there is space at Hack_Right for more young people who have committed cybercrime for the first time and want to learn from their mistakes.
