Cyber-terrorism under Libyan Criminal Law: A Comparative Analytical Study

Abstract

In recent decades, the world has witnessed a marked rise in the use of technology for illicit purposes—most notably cyber-terrorism, which constitutes one of the gravest security threats of the digital age. Modern technologies have enabled terrorist groups to launch digital attacks targeting critical national infrastructure, propagate extremist ideologies, and commit transnational crimes without the need for a physical presence at the scene of the crime. This research aims to analyze the stance of Libyan criminal law regarding the phenomenon of cyber-terrorism and assess its capacity to address this issue within the existing legislative framework. It employs a comparative analytical approach—drawing on examples such as Egyptian and U.S. laws—to identify shortcomings and propose appropriate legislative solutions. The study concludes that Libyan criminal law lacks specific, explicit provisions that clearly define and criminalize cyber-terrorism; existing statutes concerning terrorism or cybercrimes address the phenomenon only in a fragmented or generalized manner, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the legal response.