Legal protection for victims of cybercrime in light of contemporary digital challenges

Abstract

The digital space in the modern era is a source of both opportunities and challenges. Cybercrime has become an increasing threat to individuals and societies, especially in countries like Iraq, which is experiencing rapid internet and digital technology adoption. These crimes include online extortion, financial fraud, defamation, and cyber espionage, often targeting vulnerable groups such as women and children, resulting in severe psychological and material harm. The importance of this research stems from the noticeable rise in cybercrime rates in Iraq. Official reports indicate a 33% increase in online fraud and a 27% increase in online child exploitation in recent years. In the context of digital challenges such as the spread of artificial intelligence and social networks, Iraqi law struggles to keep pace with these developments. It relies on general laws, such as the Telecommunications Law No. (65) of 2004, to address cybercrime, leading to gaps in protection. This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, describing the current legal framework in Iraq by analyzing laws such as the Penal Code and the Telecommunications Law, and comparing them with international standards to assess their effectiveness in protecting victims of cybercrime. The methodology also includes case studies and official statistics to understand digital challenges, utilizing secondary sources such as international reports to propose legislative recommendations. The research concluded that the Iraqi legal framework suffers from a lack of specialized legislation for cybercrimes, which limits the effectiveness of protecting victims against evolving crimes. While the Cybercrime Directorate and the Cyber ​​Security Center contribute to improving monitoring and investigation, the absence of a comprehensive law weakens these efforts. The research recommends enacting a specialized cybercrime law that covers all emerging types, guarantees the protection of freedom of expression in accordance with international standards, and establishes a compensation fund for victims of cybercrimes to cover material and moral damages, with clear compensation mechanisms