The crime of cyber blackmail in the era of artificial intelligence

Cyber blackmail is defined as a transgression which occurs when an individual or group intimidates the victim by threatening to expose his/her personal information on social media. This form of criminal activity, which has emerged with technological advancement, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) domain, is not confined to any specific region or nation. The unrestricted reach of cyber blackmail necessitates the constant revision and evaluation of the laws regulating it so that these laws maintain their effectiveness when changes occur in the manner in which this offence is committed. This study comparatively analysed the validity of current cyber blackmail laws in Iraq and Malaysia through discussions emphasizing the association between cyber blackmail and AI, as well as the rules and regulations formulated to curb this crime. The systematic, comprehensive and comparative method employed for this study scrutinized the issue of cyber blackmail from all perspectives. It revealed that the will of Iraqi authorities falls short when it comes to the implementation of effective measures aimed at reining in the prevalence of cyber blackmail. These measures included reviewing the penal code or drafting laws directed at combating IT crimes. The crime of cyber blackmail involves the instilling of anxiety in the victim, with the purpose of compelling him/her to succumb to the demands of the blackmailer. We conclude this study with proposals aimed at curtailing the occurrence of cyber blackmail.