Comparative Study of Cybercrime Laws in Emerging Economies

Dr Anand Kumar Dwivedi

Assistant Professor

Department of Law

VSSD college Kanpur 208002

Orcid id: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8256-1074

Abstract— The proliferation of digital technologies across emerging economies has created unprecedented opportunities for economic growth, financial inclusion, and social connectivity, while simultaneously exposing these nations to escalating cybercrime risks. This manuscript undertakes a comparative analysis of cybercrime legislation across select emerging economies, namely India, Nigeria, and other developing jurisdictions tracked by international bodies such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The study examines the structure, scope, and enforcement mechanisms of these laws, identifies common gaps such as weak institutional capacity, jurisdictional ambiguity, and inconsistent international cooperation, and evaluates the extent to which national frameworks align with global standards. Drawing on verifiable legal instruments, government publications, and peer-reviewed literature, the paper concludes that while legislative adoption in emerging economies has improved substantially over the past two decades, enforcement, capacity-building, and cross-border harmonization remain the most pressing unresolved challenges.

Keywords— cybercrime, emerging economies, cyber law, digital governance, comparative legal analysis, enforcement, cybersecurity policy

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