Comparative Analysis of the Role of Iranian and English Governments in Designing Preventive Models for Emerging Cybercrimes with Emphasis on Legal and Institutional Mechanisms

Abstract

Emerging cybercrimes have become one of the most pressing challenges for legal systems worldwide. These crimes, including complex cyberattacks, data breaches, identity theft, and the misuse of critical infrastructures, require preventive models that go beyond traditional crime control approaches. Governments play a pivotal role in designing and implementing preventive strategies. This study adopts a comparative approach to examine the role of Iran and the United Kingdom in shaping preventive frameworks against emerging cybercrimes, with a focus on legal and institutional mechanisms. The research relies on scholarly articles, national legislations, official reports, and international studies, using descriptive-analytical and comparative methods. Findings indicate that the United Kingdom, through specialized bodies such as the National Cyber Security Centre and the coordinated policies of the European Union, has established a more coherent framework for cybercrime prevention. By contrast, although Iran has enacted several laws on computer crimes, it still faces challenges related to institutional coordination, legal modernization, and preventive capacity building. The comparative analysis highlights that adopting successful practices from the UK—particularly in inter-institutional cooperation, public awareness programs, and transparent regulation—can strengthen Iran’s preventive legal framework against emerging cybercrimes.