As technology has moved to the centre of daily life, the ways in which offences are committed have also changed, and acts carried out in the digital environment have given rise to new legal problems. Cybercrime (bilişim suçları) refers to acts carried out using computer systems, internet networks, electronic devices or digital data that are assessed under criminal law.

In offences committed by means of information technology, the legal assessment is as important as the technical side of the events. This is because whether an act carried out in the digital environment constitutes an offence, whether the data obtained qualifies as evidence and which legal routes will be used are determined according to the particular facts of the case.

What Are Cybercrimes?

Cybercrime can take different forms. As technology develops, the methods used to commit offences are also becoming more varied, and each incident requires its own legal assessment.

The main cybercrimes encountered in practice include:

unlawful access to information systems,
takeover of social media accounts,
fraud committed over the internet,
unlawfully obtaining or sharing personal data,
acts that cause damage to information systems,
insults, threats and blackmail in the electronic environment,
fraud committed using fake websites or identities.

These are among the offences most often seen.

Cyber Fraud and Offences Committed over the Internet

Fraud carried out over the internet is today one of the most common types of offences involving information technology. People can suffer financial loss through fake bank messages, phishing methods, fake shopping sites and social engineering methods.

In such incidents, it is necessary not only to establish the loss but also to show how the offence was committed and to assess the digital traces correctly. Bank records, communication records, IP information and electronic data may be important in the investigation.

Insults, threats, blackmail, the use of fake accounts or violations of personal rights carried out via social media platforms are assessed in the areas where IT law and criminal law intersect.

When assessing whether a post constitutes an offence, the nature of the content, the way it was shared, the person it targets and all the circumstances of the incident must be examined together. The fact that an act takes place in the digital environment does not mean that it will have no legal consequences.

The Importance of Digital Evidence in Cybercrime

Digital evidence is one of the most important elements in cybercrime. Screenshots, electronic correspondence, log records, IP information and other digital data can play an important role in clarifying the incident.

However, for digital data to have legal value, matters such as the way it was obtained, its accuracy and whether it has been altered are important. Data obtained unlawfully may cause problems in the proceedings.

The Complaint and Defence Process in Cybercrime

For victims of cybercrime, it is important to file a criminal complaint (suç duyurusu), submit the evidence and follow the investigation. In addition, for persons against whom proceedings are brought on an allegation of cybercrime, an effective legal defence needs to be prepared.

A legal assessment at the investigation stage helps to determine whether the elements of the offence are present, the nature of the evidence and how the incident will be dealt with under criminal law.

Why Is the Legal Approach Important in Cybercrime?

Unlike traditional criminal cases, cybercrime cases are specialised files involving technical examinations and digital data. For this reason, it is necessary not only to know the legislation but also to understand how digital processes work.

Not every digital incident is assessed in the same way. The method used, the damage caused, the data obtained and the position of the parties are the main elements that determine the direction of the legal process.

Legal Processes Relating to Cybercrime with Attorney Ezgi Çalışkan

Attorney Ezgi Çalışkan provides legal assessment and case follow-up in relation to offences committed on the internet, digital evidence, disputes arising from social media and unlawful acts carried out through information systems.

In a dispute arising in the digital environment, taking the right steps in time is important for preserving evidence and exercising legal rights effectively. You can contact Attorney Ezgi Çalışkan to have the legal aspects of your situation assessed.

Cybercrime