Internet technologies relevant to private investigators’ working practices

Abstract

Much has been written and discussed especially in the various US media and in legislative organs, about how the Internet is used illegally (hacking, stalking for instance), but hardly if any research has been done as to how the investigative industry employs the new medium to its benefit. The author described in this thesis how private investigators (PIs) execute their profession these days using the facilities the Internet avail them in contrast to the time before the dawn of the Internet. This contrast is also investigated in an international context, an important part of the thesis, drawn from the author's 32 years of international business experience and that of PIs worldwide. The availability of the various online facilities in different countries are compared. To better understand the new medium, and its facilities a short outline of the Internet’s history, it’s set up in general and for the use of PIs in particular is supplied. PIs also face limitations in their daily work, limitations originating from online, legal, educational, financial and international causes. The new medium not only helps PIs in their investigative, but also in their office work. Finally PIs' wishes for new tools to facilitate their daily investigative work and their outlook as to where the new medium will head are also discussed.