Autistic Adults at Risk of Cyber Crime Involvement

• •Autistic adults may unknowingly engage in cyber-dependent crimes.
• •Research indicates a potential link between autism characteristics and cybercrime involvement.
• •In Australia, cyber threats have increased significantly, with over 1,500 incidents reported in 2025-26.

Research from Flinders University indicates that autistic adults may be at an elevated risk of unwittingly engaging in cyber-dependent crimes. A study involving 138 autistic and 206 non-autistic adults found that specific characteristics of autism could correlate with involvement in cybercrime, although the exact reasons remain unclear. The study highlights the need for increased education and safeguarding measures for the autism community as cyber threats rise in Australia, with a reported 1,500 incidents in 2025-26, marking a 20% increase. While there is limited objective data on the engagement of autistic individuals in cybercrime, a 2022 UK report noted that 17% of subjects referred for cybercrime had autism diagnoses, significantly higher than the general prevalence rate of 2%. The findings suggest that autism may be a risk factor, warranting further investigation into the relationship between autism and cybercrime involvement.