Criminal Liability for Cybercrime in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Legal Perspective on Emerging Digital Threats

Abstract

This study examines criminal liability for cybercrime in the era of artificial intelligence from a contemporary legal perspective on emerging digital threats. The research aims to analyze the limitations of existing criminal law frameworks in addressing AI-assisted cybercrime, evaluate the application of criminal liability principles within autonomous digital systems, and formulate adaptive legal recommendations for future cybersecurity governance. The study employs a qualitative research method using a normative juridical and case-based analytical design because the research focuses on legal interpretation, doctrinal analysis, and the examination of cybercrime regulation related to artificial intelligence technologies. The research was conducted through institutional and library-based legal analysis in Indonesia with comparative references to the United States, the European Union, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Twelve informants consisting of criminal law scholars, cybersecurity analysts, digital forensic investigators, prosecutors, and technology governance experts were selected purposively due to their professional expertise and direct involvement in cybercrime regulation. The findings demonstrate that existing criminal liability doctrines remain inadequate for addressing autonomous AI-driven cybercrime because traditional legal systems are predominantly human-centered. The study recommends adaptive criminal law reform, strengthened international cooperation, enhanced cybersecurity governance, and algorithmic accountability mechanisms to address emerging digital threats effectively.