The Natural History Research Center and Museum, as part of its ongoing scientific activities and with the support of its Director, Assistant Professor Dr. Hana Hani Al-Saffar, recently convened a discussion panel on “Cyber Blackmail in Iraq… Causes and Combating.” The event, organized by the Center’s Workshops and Seminars Committee, took place on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Assistant Lecturer Noor Hussein Yousif moderated the panel, which featured presentations by Lecturer Dr. Zainab Alwan Makkawi and Assistant Lecturer Khalida Ibrahim Hassoun.
This session aligns with the Environment and Sustainability Framework (Quality Education – Partnerships for Goals – Sustainable Cities and Communities). The discussion addressed the issue of cyber blackmail, defined as the act of demanding money, information, or other advantages from individuals and organizations through threats of publicizing private or compromising information and confidential data on social media platforms.
The panelists emphasized the continuously evolving nature of cyber blackmail tactics, driven by technological advancements. This necessitates the ongoing updating and review of laws aimed at combating such crimes to keep pace with these changes. Despite legal amendments, the prevalence of cyber blackmail continues to rise, with perpetrators employing increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit their victims.
The primary objective of the panel discussion was to increase public awareness regarding the risks of cyber extortion, provide strategies for prevention, and offer guidance on avoiding victimization.
The panel concluded with the following recommendations:
Conduct seminars and educational programs to elevate community awareness about the dangers of cyber extortion and effective protective measures.
Improve digital security practices by implementing protection techniques, such as the regularly updating passwords.
Encourage individuals who experience extortion attempts to promptly report these incidents to the appropriate authorities rather than yielding to the demands of the extortionists.
Strengthen the role of legal and media institutions in disseminating information about mechanisms for combating these crimes.
