The Minister of Information and Communications Technology Seyed Sattar Hashemi has urged legal frameworks to keep pace with rapid technological developments.
He made the statement at the inauguration ceremony of specialized branches for handling cybercrime and virtual business cases.
He stressed establishing legal certainty for businesses operating in the digital economy.
“The launch of specialized judicial branches dealing with cybercrime and virtual businesses is an effective step toward removing legal obstacles, facilitating business activities, and strengthening investor confidence,” Hashemi noted.
The minister also praised the Judiciary’s efforts to support digital economy stakeholders and referred to the Head of the Judiciary’s directive to establish an advisory committee to address disputes involving digital economy businesses.
“At a meeting held in November last year, attended by representatives of the digital sector and the heads of the three branches of government, issues and concerns facing digital businesses were discussed. Following that meeting, the Head of the Judiciary ordered the establishment of an advisory committee to address disputes involving businesses in this sector.”
Hashemi stated that the rapid pace of technological change has made it difficult for governments and governing institutions to keep up with developments, adding that making use of the expertise and advisory capacity of stakeholders within the technology ecosystem is essential.
Legal security for digital economy stakeholders
Emphasizing that cyberspace has become an inseparable part of people’s lives and economic activities, Hashemi described legal security for businesses operating in this field as a fundamental requirement for the development of the digital economy.
“The expansion of economic activities in cyberspace has created new legal challenges that must be addressed through expert and informed approaches.”
He identified trust as a prerequisite for investment and technological development.
“An environment must be created in which investors can enter this sector with greater confidence. Arbitrary and inconsistent decisions create a sense of insecurity and discourage further investment in this field,” he stressed.
The ICT minister highlighted the role of young people, experts, and intellectuals in developing the digital economy, emphasizing that stakeholders in this sector expect government officials to facilitate their activities and remove existing obstacles so they can use their capabilities and potential to advance technology in the country.
Hashemi also stressed the importance of continuous training and capacity-building in line with the pace of technological developments.
Referring to the complexity of legal issues in this area, he said that the existing legal framework sometimes fails to address the emerging needs of the digital economy, and steps must be taken to bridge this gap.
He referred to discussions on insurance coverage for digital transportation platforms at a recent meeting of the Special Working Group on the Digital Economy, attended by the First Vice President who emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation among different sectors to address new challenges arising from the expansion of digital platforms.
Hashemi expressed hope that cooperation between the Judiciary and the ICT Ministry would help remove legal barriers, strengthen digital businesses, and enhance investment security in this sector.