Introduction:The rapid expansion of cyber platforms in recent decades has transformed the nature of contemporary wars and conflicts. These platforms are no longer merely channels of information transmission; rather, they play an active role in shaping public opinion, representing events, and constructing or undermining political legitimacy. In such an environment, public perceptions of the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the use of force are increasingly influenced by media and cognitive mechanisms. Accordingly, this study focuses on the Ramadan War against Iran to examine the role of cyber platforms in the representation of war and its implications for international criminal justice.

Objective:The primary objective of this research is to provide a criminological analysis of the influence of digital platforms on shaping public perceptions of the legitimacy of war and to explain the impact of this process on the effectiveness of international criminal law norms. The central research question is: through what mechanisms do cyber platforms influence public perceptions of war, and what implications does this process have for international criminal accountability?

Method:This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and is based on library and documentary sources. The analysis is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of critical criminology, state crime criminology, media criminology, and international criminal law.

Findings:The findings indicate that cyber platforms play a significant role in shaping public perceptions of the legitimacy of war through the selective representation of events, the amplification of particular narratives, the reproduction of political labels, and the marginalization of competing perspectives. This process may lead to what this study terms the “cognitive decriminalization of war,” a condition in which societal sensitivity toward conduct that may violate international law is substantially diminished.

Conclusion:The study concludes that, in the digital era, the effectiveness of international criminal law norms and the prospects for achieving international justice have become increasingly dependent upon the ways in which wars are represented and framed on cyber platforms.