How to handle your online harassers
Article Credit : Shilpi Guha / http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/
In the world of social networking, it is difficult to keep
things private. A Facebook post where a student in Delhi posted a screenshot of
the lewd messages sent to her by a married man is another eye-opener to the
fact that sexual exploitation of women is not limited to the streets.
According to a recent report on cyber crimes released by the
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, cyber crimes are likely
to cross 3,00,000 in 2015, almost double the number from last year. However,
the latest figures released by the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) state
that there were only 54 cases of cyber offences registered in Tamil Nadu in
2013.
The main reason behind this, according to S Jeyakumar,
Deputy Commissioner, Central Crime Branch, is the growing awareness about cyber
crime among women of the state. "We have been conducting programmes in
schools, colleges and workplaces, educating people, espe cially women, about
how to be safe and avoid falling prey to various cyber offences. Unlike earlier
times, now, offenders know that they face imprisonment for as long as 3-7 years
if they try to breach into someone's privacy or send sexually explicit
content," he informs."However, it is also important for women to
speak up and bring it to our notice whenever they receive any offensive content
on the internet or are being harassed on the cyber arena. They should never
ignore any lewd comments or messages that they receive from anybody on cyber
space, and they must bring it to our notice immediately ," he adds.
While there is considerable amount of awareness among the
city's women, Harshita Venugopal, a city-based activist who has been working to
create awareness on crimes against women, says that the scenario in rural Tamil
Nadu is different. "There have been a lot of cases of cyber stalking and
revenge porn where the victim, in an attempt to avoid attention from the media,
has settled the matter out of court.A lot of women prefer to do that. This
solves the problem temporarily . In majority of the cases, the offender strikes
back. So, it is important for the government to spread awareness about laws
against cyber crimes in the rural areas of the state also, so that women there
come forward and report the cases," she says.
According to Venugopal, in cases of revenge porn, the fear
of stigma makes women reluctant to go to the court. Also, the fact that, most
often, the offender is an acquaintance of the victim -a former lover,
colleague, relative or friendt u r n e d f o e."Irrespective of who the
offender is, the victim should come forward and file an FIR against the
miscreant," she says.
It is not only important to be aware of the legalities of
cyber crimes but also imperative to be alert and have foolproof privacy
settings on social networking sites. "One must be cautious about what
content he or she is sharing online. Do not share intimate pictures and
messages on cyber space as it is extremely dangerous. While there is nothing
wrong in using social networking sites, utilizing their privacy settings is
always helpful. And once the crime has been committed, it is important to bring
it to the notice of the police so that necessary action can be taken,"
informs inspector Melwyn of cyber crime department.
Renowned cyber law expert, Pavan Duggal, on the other hand,
calls for cyber crime education to be included in school curriculum. "If
the government wants to create a digital India, it is their responsibility and
biggest challenge to make the country cyber crime-free. As users, our
responsibility is to have a proactive look in protecting ourselves. As family
members, we must first equip our children with life skills before giving them
cell phones," he says.
SOME DO'S AND DON'TS
Activate privacy settings and give limited access to your
personal data. Do not add strangers to your profile. In case you receive any
lewd messages or comments, inform the police. You can send screenshots to,
cop@bsnl.net and let them know about the situation. Copy the URL of the post.
It will help in tracking the offender. Don't give your device to others and always
lock your applications.
