The Impact of Cybercrime on Public Utilities: A Comparative Study between Jordanian and Saudi Legislation

Abstract

The tools of crime have evolved in recent years as a result of the state's development in providing services through public utilities. Public utilities have begun offering electronic services due to the radical transformation they have undergone. This has led to the transformation of the public utility into an electronic public utility, sometimes providing far more electronic services than those offered through physical documents and tangible, sensory services. This is an extension of traditional public utilities, and it has led to the emergence of broad legal challenges and material acts that threaten the operation of electronic public utilities. This is due to the emergence of invisible cybercrimes that differ from traditional criminal acts. Cybercrime poses a real threat to the regular and continuous operation of electronic public utilities and affects the efficiency of their functional activities and services. Therefore, this researcher addresses the nature of electronic public utilities, the impact of cybercrime on them, the governing principles of electronic public utilities, and applications of some cybercrimes and cyberattacks targeting electronic public utilities, official public departments, government facilities, and infrastructure, in accordance with the Jordanian Cybercrime Law, the Law on the Protection of State Documents and Secrets, and relevant Saudi laws.  This research is a comparative study.