"الجرائم الإلكترونية" أول ندوات الموسم الثقافي بألسن عين شمس

"Cybercrime" The First Seminar of the Ain Shams Faculty of Languages Cultural Season

The Growing Threat of Cybercrime

The Faculty of Languages at Ain Shams University held a seminar titled "Cybercrime," under the patronage of Dr. Mohamed Diaa Zein El-Abdin, President of the University, Dr. Ghada Farouk, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, Dr. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty, and under the supervision of Dr. Yamna Safwat, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs. The seminar was presented by Major General Raafat El-Sharkawi, former Assistant Minister of Interior, and marked the first event of the Faculty's Community Service and Environmental Development Sector for the academic year 2024/2025.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty, emphasized the importance of educating participants about the concept of cybercrime, its types, and its danger to society. The proliferation of cybercrime leads to various risks and threats, including:

• Economic and national security threats: Cybercrime can undermine economic stability and compromise national security.
• Family breakdown: The spread of cybercrime can erode family relationships, leading to disputes and ultimately, family disintegration. This is due to the consequences of certain cybercrimes, such as defamation, spreading false news, and rumors.

Dr. Yamna Safwat, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, highlighted the widespread prevalence of cybercrime, driven by the increasing use and accessibility of the internet. The internet, she noted, is an open world without borders, making it difficult to monitor or restrict its use. Raising awareness of its risks is crucial for all members of society.

The Nature and Impact of Cybercrime

Major General Raafat El-Sharkawi, former Assistant Minister of Interior, stated that Egypt has witnessed a significant rise in cybercrime in recent times. The types, severity, and organization of these crimes vary, and their presence across all governorates of the country exacerbates their danger and the extent of the resulting losses. Among the most prevalent cybercrimes are defamation, libel, and slander.

The threat posed by these crimes extends beyond harm to individuals, encompassing harm to the public interest. This includes crimes such as:

• Operating a business without a license
• Misuse of public funds
• Trading in prohibited devices
• Fraud
• Hacking and disruption of communication

While no official statistics exist regarding the prevalence of these crimes, a study by the Communications and Information Technology Committee of the Egyptian House of Representatives, conducted in conjunction with the issuance of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, revealed that September and October 2018 witnessed 1038 reports of cybercrime, including cyber-extortion. Many cases of extortion remain unreported due to the sensitive nature of the crimes, involving reputation and honor. Victims often fear seeking help, leaving them vulnerable to continued extortion or physical harm from their families.

Vulnerable Groups and the Perpetrators

Numerous studies indicate that individuals are the most affected by cybercrime, followed by companies and organizations (whether governmental, private, or multinational) operating across various sectors in Egyptian society. Females are more susceptible to cybercrime than males, while males constitute the majority of perpetrators. Males are more likely to commit crimes related to intellectual property rights infringement, international call forwarding, and impersonation, while females are more likely to commit defamation, libel, slander, forgery, and the use of forged electronic documents.

Studies also indicate that a significant proportion of cybercrime perpetrators hold higher education qualifications. This may be attributed to the nature of these crimes, requiring sophisticated network use, technical expertise, knowledge of English, and the ability to keep up with technological advancements. These traits are often associated with educated individuals, particularly those holding higher or intermediate qualifications.

Contributing Factors

According to studies, social factors are among the most significant contributors to cybercrime. This is particularly evident in crimes that harm individuals, such as defamation, libel, slander, impersonation, invasion of privacy, email theft, and hacking. Studies highlight that the breakdown of relationships, such as engagements, divorces, or relationships between university students, can frequently lead to cybercrime. This stems from the failure to achieve the desired outcome of the relationship, prompting perpetrators to commit these crimes as a form of revenge or retaliation.

Other studies have found that legal shortcomings are a major factor in cybercrime in Egypt, followed by unemployment, insufficient religious education, and leisure.

The Impact on Family Relationships

Cybercrime takes its toll on family relationships, causing disputes among family members and contributing to family breakdown. This is due to the consequences of these crimes, such as the defamation of individuals, the spread of false information, and the theft and online publication of individuals' private files on social media platforms.

The reputations of individuals are at risk from hackers who may target them by fabricating images and videos of their spouses, children, or themselves. Even when the deception and fabricated content used by extortionists are exposed, a rift inevitably emerges in the relationship between spouses or parents and children, particularly in the absence of a culture of dealing with such crimes and a severe lack of information regarding their nature and how to address perpetrators. Society has recently witnessed the collapse of numerous families as a result of these cyber-violations.

Conclusion

Major General Raafat El-Sharkawi concluded the seminar by offering advice to students, emphasizing the importance of returning to religious values. He stressed that the problem stems from excessive openness to Western cultures that are not part of our Arab culture and identity. Our culture has always set clear boundaries for respecting and honoring women, and it is the role of men to protect the minds and culture of our children from cultural attacks from the West, which have significantly undermined the concept of modesty in Egyptian society.

Dr. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty, concluded the seminar by honoring Major General Raafat El-Sharkawi with a Faculty shield in recognition of his efforts in enriching the seminar.