Iraqi MP calls for tighter control after hackers depict porn on Baghdad's downtown ad screens

Iraq needs to tighten cyber security measures after a hacker on Sunday, 20 August, managed to project pornographic films on an advertising screen in the downtown area of the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad, an Iraqi lawmaker cautioned. 

"Any cybersecurity breach is a very dangerous alarm to the government," Sagvan Sindi, the Deputy Head of the Security and Defence Committee in the Iraqi parliament, told The New Arab in a phone call.

"Thus, the related authorities should take more strict measures, including that all advertising billboards should be under surveillance. If hackers could easily hack the billboards in the streets, then it is a warning they might be able to hack state apparatuses," he added.    

On Sunday, Iraq's Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency (FIIA) announced the arrest of a person who allegedly hacked into an advertising screen in Uqba bin Nafia Square, a major intersection at the centre of Baghdad. The agency said the person had shown "immoral scenes" without further clarification.  

Videos of a pornographic film being screened as cars passed in central Baghdad were widely shared on social media.
Following the incident, Iraqi authorities ordered the shutdown of all advertisement screens installed across Baghdad.

Saad Maan, a spokesperson for Iraq's Interior Ministry, said the person had "committed the immoral deed" because he had financial issues with the owner of the advertising screen and that he had been put on trial. 

وزارة الداخلية تعطي تفاصيل تهكير إحدى شاشات العرض في بغداد وبث مواد مخلة بالآداب
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بناءً على توجيهات السيد وزير الداخلية في متابعة تهكير إحدى شاشات العرض الإعلانية في ساحة عقبة بن نافع بالعاصمة بغداد، وبث مواد مخلة بالآداب.
فقد تمكنت وكالة الاستخبارات والتحقيقات… pic.twitter.com/FAqIDcFQ10

— سعد معن - Saad Maan (@saadmaanoficial) August 20, 2023

According to the Global Cybersecurity Index 2020, Iraq has been ranked 129 globally and 17 among the Arab countries. 

Iraq's telecoms ministry early this month imposed a ban on the Telegram messaging app, citing security concerns and data leaks of official state institutions and citizens.

However, the ministry lifted the ban after the move drew criticism from pro-Iran factions that widely use the application for their political agendas.