Media and Government Communication Unit
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, organized a specialized scientific seminar entitled, “The Role of Intellectual Security in Protecting Youth from the Risks of Cyberspace.” The seminar was delivered by lecturer Dr. Iman Jawad Abdul Kadhem and attended by a distinguished gathering of academics, specialists, and youth leaders.
Dr. Iman Jawad opened the seminar by addressing the rapid digital transformations that have made cyberspace the principal driver in shaping the consciousness of contemporary generations. She explained that, despite serving as a global gateway for learning and innovation, this space has increasingly carried direct threats targeting national identity and the value-based stability of youth. These threats include ideological extremism, media disinformation, systematic rumor campaigns, cultural intrusion, cyber extortion, and the social isolation resulting from digital addiction.
The researcher presented an in-depth vision of the concept of intellectual security, describing it as the protective shield safeguarding the individual mind from deviation and as an integrated system in which religious, cultural, social, and political dimensions intersect. She emphasized that the objective is not to restrict digital freedoms, but rather to strengthen young people’s capacity for discernment, analysis, and constructive criticism regarding all content received through digital platforms.
The seminar concluded with an open discussion session, during which participants stressed the necessity of integrating societal efforts to build a generation that is technologically aware and intellectually resilient. Dr. Iman Jawad concluded that critical thinking remains the most important weapon in the coming battle for awareness, calling for the expansion of such scientific activities in order to transform digital challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.
