The second study is taken from the Journal of Cyber Criminology. The article is titled “Cyber Security
Readiness in Iraq: Role of the Human Rights Activists.” In this empirical research study, the hardships
experienced by the Iraqi human rights fraternity was discussed. The group has opposed and stood against the passage of the anti-cybercrime draft law on the grounds of that it doesn’t comply with the
constitutional and international standards of Iraq. The bill was introduced many times since 2011, but it
has still not been passed. A theory was developed in accusing the governments of trying to manipulate
anti-cybercrime laws to place restrictions on human rights activists and to weaken and criminalize any
sort of promotion of human rights through social media platforms. The study itself involved using a
descriptive approach in examining documents, archives, and legal cases related to crimes involving
human rights violations. Additionally, a content and qualitative analysis approach was used to analyze
media reports and archives to figure out the real cause of the issue. Human rights groups and
organizations that were used in the study included Human Rights Watch, Sky International, and UNAMI
HRO. The findings revealed that Iraq is shown to have authoritarianism, civil war, political deadlocks,
and the desire to eliminate human rights. The moral purpose of the study is to foster and support online
human rights activism so that a healthy cybercommunications system can be established. It also
advocates for the freedom of opinion and the expression of human rights. In short, the controversial law
would have legalized and empowered authorities to prosecute and imprison those that promote human
rights through social media. It would have prohibited individuals from criticizing public figures and
institutions as well. The article went on to break down all the attempts to bring the bill into existence
and how much of a conflict it had with human rights organizations. The draft of the bill was revised
several times over the years, but it was rejected due to the vague and unclear intentions and focus that
it had. It was said to lack legal clarity and predictability and that it was unconstitutional. The bill was just
an attempt by the government of Iraq to use privacy and public law and order as a reason not to release
information of public interest into the public domain. The article concluded in calling for a need to bring
this issue to national attention.

Source: View of Cyber Security Readiness in Iraq: Role of the Human Rights Activists
(cybercrimejournal.com)