CYBERCRIME LEGISLATION AND THE PROTECTION AGAINST ONLINE RACISM AND CYBERBULLYING: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The recent exponential increase in the development of digital platforms has increased online racism and cyberbullying, which tend to be inconsistent because they are all types of digital aggression leading to psychological damage, social segregation, and incitement to violence. This comparative legal study explores cybercrime in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU) through the Digital Services Act (DSA), with a brief US comparison, on safeguarding against online racism (hate speech based on race/ethnicity) and cyberbullying/harassment. The paper is based on the research of Dr. Fahad A. Moafa, such as his comparative typology of cybercrimes in the UK and KSA, models of factors influencing cyberbullying in university students, comparisons of user behavior as a means of prevention. The analysis compares and contrasts definitions of offenses, platform duties, enforcement, and balance with freedom of expression with the help of doctrinal and comparative approaches. The results put emphasis on the criminal sanctioning of KSA in line with Sharia and national security, as compared to the national responsibility of care of the UK and systemic mitigation of risk by the EU. Hybrid models, which combine behavioral prevention and platform accountability, with Arab contexts, are recommended.