The Article reviews

Alexis Booker 

Cybersecurity and Social Science 

Professor Aslan 

9 February 2024

Introduction

The study of Suleiman et al. (2023) navigates the entangled terrain of Iraqi cybercrime law and administrative laws, while noting their limitations and proffering means of better governance. This review scrutinizes how closely the research is linked to social sciences theories, assesses the research methods used, and looks at its societal relevance, mainly focusing on the marginalized.

The Social Science Connection

In Iraq the cybercrime law embodies an essential social science problem combining social, political, legal, and technological aspects. The research’s investigation into the efficacy of cyber laws and administrative actions as responses to cyber threats is an indication of gaining insight into human behavior within the digital sphere and its regulation. Through the analysis of legal frameworks and the way they are implemented in practice the study points out the interplay of technology and social norms which is a key principle of social sciences that considers how the impact of digitalization on societal structures and individual behavior is reflected in social norms.

Research Questions and Hypotheses

The main goal of the study is to review the existing legal and administrative framework on cybercrime in Iraq. This is to capture such loopholes and limitations within this framework. Research questions concentrate on evaluating the sufficiency of current cybercrime legislations, the impact of administrative measures in reducing cybercrime risks, and identifying opportunities for improvement. Although not explicitly stated as hypotheses, the assumption lying behind the problem statement is that the current legislative and administrative structures in Iraq fail to deal efficiently with the dynamic characteristics of cybercrime.

Research Methodology

This study adopts a qualitative research method and gathers perceptions of experts in the Iraqi legal system through in-depth interviews. This approach provides a thorough understanding of the intricacies involved in cybercrime laws and their implementation. The employment of NVivo software in the data analysis such as transcription and thematic analysis enhances the investigation involving the struggle faced by the legislators and administrators in ruling cyber actions.

Data and Analysis

The thematic analysis revealed four main themes: cybercrime challenges, current legislation and its limitations, and necessity for updated legislation are discussed as well as improvement suggestions. This work, based on qualitative data from interviews, gives a holistic assessment of the failures in tackling cybercrime in Iraq which reveals the importance of the imperative need for an updated legislative framework.

Relevance to Social Science Concepts

The findings are very close to social science concepts, in particular those about governance, the social effects of technology, and the digital divide. The study shows that governing the digital space is one of the problems of governing the digital space, which is a common topic in social sciences that studies how societies adjust to the technology. Also, there is the attention paid on legislative updates and international collaboration, which shows the social science interests in policy formation and global governance structures.

Impact on Marginalized Groups

Despite the fact that the study does not put an emphasis on the marginalized groups, the impacts of ineffective cybercrime legislation makes their lives more difficult. The most vulnerable to cyber threats are very often the underserved communities due to lack of access to cybersecurity resources and knowledge. Through the focusing of the legislative and administrative lacunas, the study implicitly focuses on the necessity of inclusive policies which provide protection for the entire society, in particular the most marginalized segments.

Contributions to Society

The study is of significance in that it describes what the critical issues in the current Iraqi cybercrime laws are and provides indications of future improvements. It serves as a guide to policy makers on how they can strengthen cyber governance which in turn protects citizens, businesses and governmental institutions from cyber threats. Cybercrime laws and administrative measures are further strengthened to enable a more secure digital environment, ensuring trust and safety in the digital realm critical in social and economic development.

ReferenceSuleiman, N. M., Hatim, A., Alseidi, M. A., Mohsen, K. S., Aali, W. K. A. A., Abdulaal, A. H., Rasol, M. A., Hamzah, A. K., & Alsrray, K. B. F. (2023). Cybercrime Laws in Iraq: Addressing Limitations for Effective Governance. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 17(2), 33–47. https://cybercrimejournal.com/menuscript/index.php/cybercrimejournal/article/view/186/68