As online platform brings the world closer the dark side is also gaining it’s prominence. Yes, we are talking about online harassment which is one of the essential issues that we need to address. In this article, we will take a look at distinctive aspects of online harassment that will  help you in creating a safer world.

Identify your Crime

There are different cyber offences that can be applied to the doer at the time of filing a case:

Cyber stalking:

• Cyber stalking is when a woman is being slyly followed to keep track of her movements online and/or offline. It’s an invasion of privacy where someone tracks all your daily routines, social, and personal life and misuse your information for various other crimes.

Cyber pornography

• Cyber pornography is the act of using cyberspace to create, display, distribute, import, or put out pornography or obscene stuff.

Voyeurism

• Voyeurism is mainly directed at women occupied in intimate acts. Recordings are usually dispersed without the knowledge or consent of the concerned women, either by strangers or by close associates.

Morphing

• Morphing is an act of manipulating the unusual picture of a person and reloading after making the edits. It may comprise of adding naked bodies to faces to humiliate.

Online trolling/bullying/blackmail/threat/intimidation

• Online trolling/bullying/blackmail/threat/intimidation is deliberate and repeated damage caused by the use of computers, cell phones or other electronic devices.

Impersonation

• Impersonation is representing oneself to be a person one is not.

Steps to take

Disengage

Regardless of the fact that who the alleged perpetrator is, do not engage in any more conversation, wiles or threats.

Right Away Inform your Trusted Circle

Friends, family, colleagues to whom you are closest to, make sure you inform them. People who care for you will not evaluate you. They will first concentrate on making sure that you are safe.

Document Proof

This applies to any exploitation you face in the online or offline world. If you have received any messages/emails/voice notes/pictures, make sure you keep them as records for any probable criminal cases.

Get in Touch With Your Nearest Cyber Cell

You can appeal for a lady officer to be there at the time of filing the grievance if you feel at ease. Keep that copy of the complaint for your reference. If you think you are not being heard by that particular team, you can always take the matter to their superiors.

Shame always lie on the Abuser

You don’t need to be ashamed of anything. No abuser, rapist, or bully should get be freed away for fear of dishonor. Stand up, raise your voice, and throw that shame back on to the doer. Rather than paying attention to those who involve in judgment or socially embarrass you, pay heed to those who love and support you.

Abusers must be punished for their Crimes

Don’t remain quiet and let a dangerous person wander openly. They could aim your loved ones in future. Don’t let it happen. It is our communal responsibility to allow justice to take its way.

The Law is on your Side

• Cyber pornography is an illegal offence. Section 292 of the IPC deals with the offence of “obscenity”. It makes selling, distributing, publicly exhibiting, putting into circulation, taking part in or receiving profit from any business related to use of obscene objects, advertising, offering or attempting to do any act which is an offence under this section as a punishable offence.

• The IPC provision on voyeurism is complemented by section 66E of the IT Act – which makes violation of privacy by capturing, publishing or transmitting the image of a private area of any person without his or her consent, a punishable offence. Please note that even if these recordings/pictures were taken with permission of the woman (perhaps at a happier time in a personal relationship), she may not have given consent for its circulation. If the love affair goes wrong for example and the ex-boyfriend circulates this on web, it’s an offence.

• Impersonation is a punishable offence under section 416 and section 419 in the Indian Penal Code which states that whoever cheats by personating shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
• Morphing is a punishable offence under section 509 in the Indian Penal Code . Several times IPC sections are applied in combination for some cases, like section 505 in the Indian Penal Code which states that statements conducing to public mischief is punishable.

Reclaim your Life

Distress is an aspect of your life. It doesn’t define who you are or say where your life goes from here. You need to get back your life by encountering your fears and getting solutions for them. Don’t drive it away hoping for it to magically cure. Don’t allow anyone to throw a shadow on your complete existence.

You can get professional help from a psychologist/psychiatrist. It helps to concentrate on concealed vulnerabilities.