Cybercrime and Harassment: The Impact of Blackmailing on Jordanian Society as a Case Study

Abstract

This study aims to uncover the relationship between two cybercrimes, harassment and blackmailing, as well as their impact on Jordanian society. The study population included 90 prosecutors working in Jordanian courts. The researchers used the relational method in the second half of the academic year 2020. According to Jordanian prosecutors, the rate of cybercrime harassment is average, whereas that of blackmail is high. The findings also show a statistically significant relationship between harassment and blackmail crimes among the sample members, which is a statistically significant rate. The study also showed that the spread of harassment had six consequences: threatening and defaming the victim, family breakup, social decay, loss of values, instilling skcepticism and loss of self-confidence, and security instability. The authors recommend increasing citizens' awareness of the concept of electronic governance to combat cybercrime. They also recommend that governments conclude agreements and treaties that criminalize all types of crimes, pinpoint their locations when they are committed, and explain how cybercriminals should be delivered.