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Due to the lockdown, dependence on digital media has significantly risen. Which in turn has led to a spike in cyber-crimes. Here's how you can deal with it.
Due to the lockdown, dependence on digital media has significantly risen. Which in turn has led to a spike in cyber-crimes. Here’s how you can deal with it.
The pandemic has spread its tentacles into just about every area of life at this point, forcing us to change our behaviours significantly. This has led to a sharp increase in digital activity.
According to a survey conducted by Hammer Kops, during the lockdown period alone, over 87 percent Indians turned to social media for all sorts of content consumption. This, cyber experts say, has led to an alarming surge in cyber crimes. Sexual harassment, abuse, stalking, trolling and rape threats are on the rise as miscreants take advantage of the new-found dependence on the virtual world.
Traditionally, men and women are taught to simply ‘ignore it’ – making many of us resign to it to thinking this is all that one can do. This attitude has, however, caused a lot of mental harm and keeping silent is simply not a pliable solution anymore. Today, these are crimes punishable by the law.
India figures among the top five countries affected by cyber crime. However, so far, Maharashtra Cyber Crime Department has only been able to register 410 offences and have arrested 213 persons in connection with these. Though Central and state agencies are constantly at work, the vulnerabilities are more pronounced, the threat more real.
Well that’s simple. Because we’ve had enough. And because the mental and emotional toll cyber bulling and harassment has taken on all of us is unreal. We are increasingly moving to virtual lives and we need to ensure we feel safe and happy there. So, it is up to us to take out the trash.
How we can put an end to this is, if we come together and say enough is enough and report these creeps.
List all the people who you would like to report. Then, gather their virtual information to collect evidence for quick action against culprits. Later, mention URLs, user names, attached screenshots of offensive material/posts/comments/DMs and email them to the Mumbai police, if you’re in Mumbai.
For Mumbai email: cyberpst-mum@mahapolice.gov.in and cc [email protected] (Visit https://cybercrime.gov.in for more information and other city email IDs)
Helpline Number – 155260 09:00 AM To 06:00 PM
Report and track.
Once your complaint is submitted, you will receive a confirmation message in the portal itself. In case, you have filed a complaint through the “Report and Track” or the “Report Other Cybercrime” section available on the portal, you will receive a SMS and an e-mail with a complaint reference number on your registered mobile number and e-mail id.
What we’re talking about is cybercrime aka the creep-fest on social media.
Eight out of ten Indians have faced online harassment. Online sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of sexual misconduct on digital platforms. These include some of the more specific forms of online harassment including ‘revenge porn’ and ‘cyberstalking.’ It often manifests as hateful speech or online threats.
What else constitutes cybercrime?
Non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos. Exploitation, coercion, and threats. Sexualised bullying Unwanted sexualisation All forms of unwelcome sexual requests, comments and content.
Section 354A of the IPC
People posting lewd comments on social media are liable under this law and can be punished with one-year imprisonment and fine. In addition, posting/messaging content related to pornography against the will of a woman or requesting sexual favours are punishable by a fine along with three years of imprisonment under the same provision.
It is time to put an end to it. Let’s join hands together, take out the trash and spread internet positivity in society.
Picture credits: Pexels
Malini Agarwal a.k.a MissMalini is the Founder & Creative Director of MissMalini Entertainment, a leading media lifestyle brand that creates highly engaging, multi-platform content geared towards India's Internet Generation. Malini is read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
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14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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