Saturday 22 January 2022
Islamabad (News advertisment. DW newspaper. January 22, 2022) Anis Marinho, working in a cafe in the Portuguese city of Lisbon, was finishing her work in the evening, when she received a message on her mobile phone.
The message warned that there was a nude video of him on a porn site, which is being shared on other social media platforms.
Marinho was then 21 years old. She says of her reaction after receiving the message, "My body felt numb and I rushed home to my family in a state of distress."
"Someone I trusted shared my private video with my name," Anne Marinho told DW.
It was shared on a porn website and the video went viral on Twitter and Telegram. The incident shook me. "
Marinho is one of several girls who have been sexually harassed for "private videos or photos." This practice is a crime and includes actions such as making pornographic videos without consent, vindictive pornography, ie when the ex-partner shares private photos or videos for the purpose of revenge without the consent of the woman.
Anne Marinho is now president of the New Parties, an organization set up in Portugal to help women facing such sexual harassment.
When I saw my video online, I immediately went to the police to lodge a report," he said. They wanted to help me but they were already burdened by so many cyber crimes.
Now 2022 has come and my trial is still going on. "
Sometimes walking down the street I feel like someone is making a video of me and I get very upset," says Anne. Then the thought comes to me that if I have beaten the incurable disease like cancer then I can face this trial too. "
How Common is Digital Sexual Harassment?
Everyday life is becoming increasingly digital, and so is the incidence of digital harassment.
According to surveys conducted by two different organizations, most women in EU countries fear that they may face online harassment. 30% even fear that their fake nude photos or videos could go viral.
"Women don't want to be sexually harassed based on pictures," Claire McGillian of Durham University in the UK told DW.
In South Korea, even in public toilets, incidents of women being videotaped by making hidden videos by installing hidden cameras are frequently reported. So it has become a complex but very serious issue.I want to live like a normal person."
Porn websites are benefiting greatly from such videos. The X-Hamster porn website reported that when a video is presented as a 'secret recording' and a 'real scandal', the number of viewers is much higher than other videos.
Marinho explained how his video was shared on social media and other platforms. When I contacted Twitter, he deleted the video, but the Telegram said that what is shared in groups is It is not their responsibility. My video has been shared with many other groups, including the telegram group 'Revenge Porn'.
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Josephine Ballon, head of legal affairs at Hate Aid, says it is important to address the issue of redistribution of videos and images in order to prevent harassment based on images.
Ballon told DW, "The problem is that such content is constantly downloaded and then re-shared through algorithms. That way, the content can stay online for many years to come.
Women victims of this crime search on Google to see if the video has been deleted or not. That way, they will never forget the incident and their trauma will not go away. "
However, Marinho says she does not want to give up using social media because of these videos.
I have never lost my social media profile because I think I am strong enough to face this situation," he said.
I wear whatever I like, take photos of myself and share on social media.I want to live like a normal person. "
How helpful can the new European law be?
European legislators passed the Digital Services Act, or DSA, on Thursday, January 20, to ensure public safety in the Internet world.
The law would require major online platforms to take action against illegal content.
Alexandra Gise, a member of the European Parliament, also took part in drafting the law. Through DSA, affected people will be able to easily remove photos and videos from the Internet," he told DW. They will have to go online anonymously and go in front of the camera to verify that the illegally spread videos and photos are theirs.
Platforms can then be asked to remove this content. "
In addition, to share a video on a porn website, you have to register by phone number. Companies will also provide training to their employees so that they can identify and remove illegal content.
The way of the future
The next agenda of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council is to find a way to implement the DSA.
McGillian, however, said that the European Union, meanwhile, could resolve the issue quickly by adopting the Australian approach.
In Australia, if you are affected, the national safety regulator is contacted," he said. It then takes action to remove related content. That's the decent thing to do, and it should end there. "
Marinho supports the new law, but also says it is important to provide training and information to young people about online crime. She visits schools in Portugal to share her experiences so that victims of such crimes do not feel alone.
Priyanka Shankar (Sh H / A B)
