The ‘effects’ doctrine is a principle of jurisdiction in international law which allows a State to exercise jurisdiction over acts committed outside its territorial boundaries if those acts produce substantial effects within its territory. Traditionally, criminal jurisdiction was based on territoriality, meaning a State could prosecute offences committed within its borders. However, with the growth of cross-border activities, particularly in cyberspace, rigid territorial limits proved inadequate. The effects doctrine therefore emerged to address situations where harmful consequences are felt within a State, even though the conduct originated elsewhere. In the context of computer crimes, the doctrine has gained immense significance because cyber offences are inherently transnational. A hacker sitting in one country can infiltrate servers located in another, steal data from victims in multiple jurisdictions, or disrupt financial systems across borders. If jurisdiction were limited only to the place where the offender physically acted, many cyber criminals would escape prosecution. By applying the effects doctrine, courts assert jurisdiction based on the impact of the offence within their territory, thereby ensuring that domestic interests and