Strategies for Dealing with Economic Instability Arising from the Virtual Space

Economic instability is considered the most significant problem that exists in a country and has an impact on societal security, leading to various consequences. This research aims to present strategies for dealing with economic instability arising from the virtual space. This study was conducted within the qualitative approach framework and using a data-driven research method (Strauss and Corbin). The participants in the research included 14 experts from law enforcement command, professors from the Police Sciences University, and researchers from the Police Sciences and Social Security Studies Institute and the Center for Strategic Studies of Faraja. They were selected through purposive sampling and participated in the research through interviews until theoretical saturation was achieved. The semi-structured interview was the tool used. The findings indicated that the lack of appropriate legal provisions, multiplicity of existing laws, deficiencies and ambiguities in existing laws, monitoring deficiencies, weak management, sanctions, and market penetration were identified as causal factors. Westernization, financial insecurity, high domestic prices, poverty and unemployment, export problems, cost-effectiveness of imports, fiscal policy instability, media diversity, and the increasing number of users, concealing offenders, lack of media literacy, and virtual opportunism were identified as background factors. Ultimately, the attractiveness of the versatile virtual space, the lack of expertise, and weaknesses in dealing with virtual offenders were identified as intervening factors significantly contributing to economic instability. The security consequences related to the formation of rallies, hoarding and under-selling, exploitation of turbulent situations, reduction in executive agency oversight, changes in the sense of security, negative impact on domestic production, growth of emerging crimes, and changes in lifestyles can be addressed through control and monitoring strategies in the virtual space, as well as strategies to deal with the consequences of inappropriate use of the virtual space.