Writer Articles
Hamza Alakaleek

Hamza Alakaleek

Hamza Alakaleek has graduate degrees in International Political Economy and International Business Law from Yarmouk University and University de Montreal with focus in Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection.

The scope of tax evasion in Jordan: Estimating the unseen

​Tax evasion poses a significant challenge to economic stability, entailing the deliberate underpayment or nonpayment of taxes mandated by law. While accurately gauging the full extent of this issue proves inherently complex, numerous studies and reports underscore its potential magnitude. It is crucial to distinguish between tax evasion, constituting the illegal underreporting or non-reporting of income to evade taxes, and tax loopholes, which are legal provisions within tax codes that enable individuals or entities to lessen their tax obligations. Due to its clandestine nature, pinpointing the precise scope of tax evasion presents inherent challenges.

Patent trolling menace: Economic ripples and legal quagmires

In recent years, patent trolling has emerged as a significant concern in the field of intellectual property (IP). Patent trolling, also known as patent assertion entities (PAEs) or non-practicing entities (NPEs), refers to acquiring patents for the sole purpose of suing other companies for infringement rather than using the patents to create or sell products. This practice has raised questions about its economic impact, effect on innovation, and the legality of such actions under existing patent laws. The practice of patent trolling has evolved over time, with some entities amassing large portfolios of patents and using them to target multiple companies across various industries. These entities often do not manufacture or sell any products themselves, leading critics to argue that they exploit the patent system for financial gain rather than promoting innovation.

FinTech innovations that are transforming the financial landscape

​The rapid ascent of the FinTech sector in recent years has redefined the landscape of financial services, ushering in an era of unprecedented accessibility and innovation. Yet, alongside its transformative potential, the industry grapples with a host of risks and challenges intrinsic to its digital realm. The speed and global reach of digital transactions have inadvertently provided fertile ground for illicit activities, ranging from money laundering to cybercrime. Such threats pose significant risks to the integrity of the financial system and demand vigilant mitigation efforts from FinTech firms. While technological advancements have bolstered fraud detection, perpetrators continue to refine their tactics, exploiting emerging technologies like generative AI and ChatGPT to obscure fraudulent activities.

Cyber sovereignty: Legal implications and economic impact in key nations

In today's hyperconnected world, cyberspace is the lifeline of global commerce and economic activity. As governments vie for more control over their digital spaces, cyber sovereignty emerges as an important but complex subject with far-reaching consequences for businesses and economies. As a result, the pursuit of cyber sovereignty and its impact on the free movement of information creates a complicated, ever-changing legal landscape around the world. Each country approaches this dynamic in its own unique way, resulting in varied legislative frameworks and obstacles that influence information accessibility and availability. Understanding the various legislative frameworks, growing technological problems, and specific subtleties of cyber sovereignty in these countries provides significant insights into the complexities of this multifaceted topic.

Cyber sovereignty: Balancing power, rights & security in the digital age

In the ever-changing digital landscape, a new notion has evolved, grabbing attention and provoking debate: cyber sovereignty. At its core, cyber sovereignty refers to a nation's power to exert control over its digital domain. This includes data governance (the right to regulate how data generated within its borders is collected, stored, used, and transferred), cybersecurity (the ability to defend against cyber-attacks and protect critical infrastructure from digital threats), jurisdiction (the authority to enforce laws and regulations within its digital borders, including investigating and prosecuting cybercrimes), and Internet governance (participating in decisions).

Data explosion fuels privacy crisis: Navigating data sovereignty

The contemporary global landscape witnesses an incessant generation of substantial data volumes every second, leading to an inevitable susceptibility to wrongful use and distribution across the digital realm. The management of business-critical data becomes a challenging endeavor in the face of this ubiquitous data influx. The advent of cloud computing services and innovative data storage approaches has substantially diminished geopolitical barriers, thereby intensifying concerns among global data regulators regarding data privacy and security. The recent escalation of high-profile data breaches and cyberattacks has prompted governments to undertake additional measures to safeguard citizens against these threats that transcend national, regional, and border limitations.

Data wars erupt: Cloud giants clash with sovereignty walls

The surge in cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions has elevated the significance and risk of data sovereignty issues for regulators and businesses. Data sovereignty involves a country-specific mandate stipulating that data is governed by the laws of the nation where it is gathered or processed and must remain within its borders. Many countries, including Russia, China, Germany, France, Indonesia, and Vietnam, insist that their citizens' data be stored on servers physically located within the country's boundaries. This requirement is grounded in the belief that safeguarding personal information from misuse, particularly beyond the country's jurisdiction, is in the government's and citizens' best interests. The prominence of such laws has increased with the introduction of new privacy regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Cloud odyssey: legal complexities for gov’t agencies in cloud adoption

​In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, government agencies are increasingly turning to cloud services to enhance operational efficiency and data management. The benefits of cloud adoption are undeniable, offering scalability, cost-effectiveness, and improved accessibility. However, this transition is not without its challenges, particularly within the legal domain, where unique considerations demand careful attention and strategic mitigation. Cloud storage may not be as private as we think, given that many cloud providers have the technical capability to access your unencrypted files. Encryption is crucial in securing files in the cloud, with both "at rest" and "in transit" encryption methods providing protection against third-party access.

Cyber insurance policies in the financial sector cannot be overstated

​In the modern landscape, where technological advancements propel financial institutions to the forefront, the importance of cyber insurance policies cannot be overstated. The financial sector faces escalating threats from the rising frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for institutions to take proactive measures to protect against potential financial losses.

Revolutionizing legal workflows: The power of automation in the industry

​The legal industry is undergoing a transformative revolution driven by advancements in technology, particularly the automation of legal workflows. Technology automation has caused a profound impact on legal processes, which creates benefits and challenges, therefore the future landscape of legal practice will be different. Traditionally, legal work has been synonymous with labor-intensive processes, exhaustive documentation, and intricate procedural steps. However, the emergence of automation technologies is reshaping this landscape, promising increased efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in legal workflows.