Raising Awareness on the Misuse of Communication Devices and Legal Accountability: Seminar by a Department of Law Student

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Hussein Ghayb Mustafa, a second-year student in the Law Department at Cihan University–Erbil, delivered an informative awareness lecture to fifth-grade students at Khalid Midhat Preparatory School.

The seminar presentation was titled ‘Misuse of Communication Devices and Threatening with Them: Risks and Legal Accountability.’ The event was organized in coordination with the school principal, Mr. Haiman Faisal Nader.

The lecture began by defining threats made via electronic communication devices as a criminal act, followed by a detailed explanation of its serious forms, including extortion for unlawful gain, hacking of private data, continuous electronic harassment (cyberbullying), and the emerging challenge of misusing Artificial Intelligence to create fake or threatening content. The lecturer highlighted that the motives behind these actions vary and can severely impact social trust as well as the psychological well-being of victims.

The presentation went beyond identifying the problem, also offering practical solutions and remedies. Hussein emphasized the importance of digital awareness and implementing personal protection measures. He concluded by outlining the law’s strict stance on such crimes, particularly focusing on the Kurdistan Region’s Law on the Prevention of Misuse of Communication Devices, Law No. (6) of 2008. He stressed that this law criminalizes all forms of using electronic devices to threaten or harm individuals’ reputations, reaffirming the Region’s commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring a safe digital environment.

The activity was highly appreciated by attendees for its valuable content, contributing to the development of an aware and responsible academic community.