CYBERCRIME, GENDER, AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant threats in the digital age, transcending national boundaries and affecting individuals, institutions, and governments alike. While cybercrime is often discussed in terms of financial loss and technological vulnerability, its gendered dimensions remain largely underexplored, particularly in developing jurisdictions. Women and gender minorities are disproportionately affected by certain forms of cybercrime such as cyberstalking, online harassment, sextortion, and the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images. These harms are not merely technological but deeply social and legal, raising critical questions about access to justice, victim protection, and the adequacy of existing legal frameworks. This study undertakes a comparative analysis of Nigeria and the United States in order to examine how both jurisdictions address cybercrime through a gender-sensitive legal lens. The paper analyses statutory provisions, judicial responses, institutional mechanisms, and enforcement challenges in both countries. It argues that while the United States has developed more comprehensive victim-oriented legal protections, Nigeria’s framework remains largely offender-focused, with significant gaps in gender-sensitive enforcement. The paper concludes by recommending legal reforms, policy interventions, and institutional strengthening to enhance gender protection within cybercrime regulation, particularly in Nigeria.