Study of Opportunities and Challenges of Cyberspace and Its Impact on Cybercrimes in the Armed Forces of Iran

Abstract

In the contemporary era, following the expansion of globalization and the subsequent growth of cyberspace, discussions have increasingly revolved around both physical and virtual spaces. Similar to the physical world, cyberspace has created numerous potentials and challenges, leading to the displacement of many crimes from the physical to the virtual domain. This shift affects various groups, including the armed forces. Given these conditions, the present study seeks to examine the impact of cyberspace on cybercrimes within the armed forces by employing a descriptive-analytical research method. This study poses the following research question: What are the most significant characteristics of cyberspace, and how do these characteristics influence cybercrimes within the armed forces? The findings indicate that the most critical features of cyberspace—globalization, uncontrollability, anonymity, interactivity, and diversity—significantly affect cybercrimes within the armed forces, creating numerous challenges in this regard. The conclusion of the study highlights that in the context of the armed forces and their associated crimes, there has been a notable shift from physical to virtual crimes. This transformation underscores the necessity of revising criminal policy to address emerging cybercrime challenges effectively.