"More Control: Iraq’s Alarming Cybercrime Law"

Days after the Jordanian parliament approved a cybercrime law with disastrous implications for free speech, Iraq put forth its own with even worse consequences. The Iraqi parliament is divided between advocates who believe the law provides more robust protections against cybercrimes and those who see in it an end to freedoms.

On June 5, 2022, after a period of deliberation, the Iraqi Security and Defense Parliamentary Committee announced that it would reintroduce the cybercrime draft law for parliament to vote on....

Rather than fight cybercrime, the law gives the state the authority to monitor and punish people’s online activities, especially on social media....

Articles 3 and 6 of the proposed law stipulate severe penalties for individuals who use “computers and information networks” to harm the country or engage in dangerous activities...

Article 22 imposes temporary imprisonment and fines of up to 30 million dinars on individuals establishing, managing, or supporting websites that promote “immorality or indecent content” and on those advocating such content.

Iraqi journalist and human rights activist Akram Al Sayyab raised concerns about the draft law, stating that it lacks “legal professionalism” and leans heavily towards a “police-oriented approach.”...

Without clear and precise definitions, relative concepts such as “social principles or values” could easily be used to prosecute individuals exercising their right to freedom of expression and criticism. The broad scope of what constitutes an offense and the harsh penalties imposed may have a chilling effect on open discourse and discussion online. Even those who mention any of these “values and principles” may face such accusations....

the cybercrime draft law poses a threat to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. It diminishes the opportunities to expose and discuss past corruption cases...