Crimes in the Virtual World: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed crime into new dimensions within virtual environments, making “crimes in the virtual world” a critical subject of scholarly investigation. Despite the growing number of studies, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of research patterns, collaboration networks, and thematic developments in this field. To address this gap, this study employs a bibliometric analysis to systematically examine existing literature and uncover knowledge structures. Data were collected using the Scopus database through an advanced search strategy, yielding a total of 1,068 documents relevant to the theme. The dataset was cleaned and harmonised using OpenRefine, followed by statistical and graphical analyses conducted through the Scopus Analyzer. Furthermore, VOSviewer software was employed to generate visualisation maps, including keyword co-occurrence networks, co-authorship collaborations, and thematic clusters. The findings reveal significant publication growth over the past decade, with notable contributions from leading countries such as India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted dominant research foci on cybercrime, computer crime, cybersecurity, and digital forensics, while emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and machine learning suggest evolving interdisciplinary approaches. Co-authorship analysis demonstrated that research collaboration is concentrated among a few developed nations, although participation from emerging economies is steadily increasing. These results provide empirical evidence of the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of virtual world crime research, emphasising both technological and socio-legal perspectives. In conclusion, this study enriches the body of knowledge by offering a structured overview of global research trends, identifying thematic strengths and gaps, and providing valuable insights for future scholarly directions, policymaking, and international collaboration in combating crimes in the virtual world.