Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Palestinian Law in Combating Cybercrimes: A Study of the Decree Law No. (10) of 2018 on Cybercrimes

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Palestinian Cybercrime Law in addressing cybercrime in Palestine. The research adopted a descriptive analytical approach. The study population consisted of academic staff at the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University, in addition to third- and fourth-year students. A sample of 101 participants was selected. The analysis revealed several findings; The mean score for the perceived effectiveness of the legislative aspects of the law was (2.16), indicating a moderate level. The procedural and executive aspects scored a mean of (1.94), also reflecting a moderate level of effectiveness. The judicial aspects received a mean score of (2.06), while the protection of rights and freedoms was rated at (2.02)— indicating moderate effectiveness as well. The study identified significant legal and institutional challenges, rated highly by participants. These included difficulties in interpreting and applying cybercrime-related legal provisions (87.0%) and the absence of a comprehensive national strategy for implementation (86.7%). The findings also pointed to critical legislative gaps, such as the use of imprecise legal terminology (87.7%) and vague drafting that leads to inconsistent interpretations (86.7%). In light of these results, the study recommends revising the law to align with rapid technological developments, improving the clarity and comprehensiveness of its provisions, and organizing expert-led workshops to refine legislative language and promote legal coherence.