Technology itself is neither good nor evil; in most instances it is employed in an appropriate manner. But technology sometimes is used for the wrong reasons.
For example: 16 people in Texas and Florida were arrested on Sept. 21 and charged in a multi-million dollar health care fraud and Internet pharmacy scheme.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas alleged the suspects fraudulently purchased more than $200 million in pharmaceuticals from drug wholesalers and illegally diverted the drugs through rogue Internet pharmacies. Federal authorities said they were selling “powerful narcotics without legitimate prescriptions to anyone with a computer and cash.”
Much of the malicious use of the Internet has been done outside of the U.S. But this instance reminds us that there are those within our own borders who run scams, steal identities and use them to empty bank accounts, wreck and disrupt companies with worms, viruses and denial-of-service invasions, and steal music, movies and other intellectual property — all across the Web. Every one of us is at risk.
The Texas pharmaceutical fraud case, as well as other cybercrimes, are the very things that easily persuade lawmakers to grandstand and over-regulate to protect us from the criminals. And yet they continue to flirt with legislation that would facilitate the importation of drugs, making it much easier for Americans — including minors and those who abuse prescription drugs — to get their drugs over the Internet.
Yes, criminals who use technology to exploit their victims should endure stiff punishment, just as any other offender. The costs to innocent individuals and businesses are in the hundreds of billions each year. Strong disincentives need to be in place to limit this behavior.
But incidents such as that mentioned above should force Congress, governors and state legislatures to re-examine the confusing and contradictory message so many of them have been given for so long. Many have claimed that those who buy prescription drugs over the Internet from foreign sources are getting the exact same drug they would get at their local pharmacy, but at a much lower price.
It’s not true, and those elected officials can no longer turn their heads to look the other way.