Why sharing leaked data online is not harmless or legal

Ransomware attacks and data leaks have become common across the world.

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Criminal groups infiltrate computer systems, steal personal or institutional data, and demand payment in exchange for not publishing it.

If the ransom is not paid, they often release the information in stages first on illegal websites, then accomplices gradually move some of this information to public platforms. Unfortunately, in some cases, ordinary users thereafter share it without realizing the legal or ethical consequences.

Globally, several legal frameworks have been established to address cybercrime and protect individuals’ data privacy. One of the most significant is the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which promotes cooperation between countries to investigate and prosecute cyber offences. Another is the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which not only requires institutions to protect personal data but also imposes consequences for the misuse or unauthorized dissemination of such information.