Ransomware extortion in Europe: legal responses and mitigation strategies

Ransomware extortion in Europe: legal responses and mitigation strategies

연구 분야: Safety

학회: International Cybersecurity Law Review

Ransomware has become one of the most pervasive cyber threats in Europe, combining illicit system access, encryption of data, and extortion, often coupled with data theft. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of ransomware extortion from a European legal perspective. It examines the typology of attacks and their qualification under criminal law, the jurisdictional complexities of enforcement, and the role of Directive 2013/40/EU, the Budapest Convention, and the EU cyber sanctions regime. Preventive regulations such as the NIS2 Directive, the GDPR’s breach notification obligations, and sector-specific laws are analyzed alongside private sector responses, including cyber insurance and industry standards. Special attention is given to the legality of ransom payments, evolving reporting requirements, and ethical considerations. Case studies from Germany, Ireland, and Norway illustrate the real-world impact of ransomware and the legal and policy responses to such incidents. The article concludes by assessing future trends—including cryptocurrency regulation, sanctions, potential payment bans, and resilience measures—and calls for an interdisciplinary and coordinated approach to mitigating the ransomware threat in Europe.