
KARACHI:
Online harassment, also known as cyber harassment, refers to the act of bullying and abusing using electronic and/or digital means. This can include offensive advances made towards individuals in chat rooms, on gaming and social media websites, or through text messages, including instances of sexual violence. The prevalence of using derogatory language and gestures against women is alarmingly high in our society. According to the latest report from the International Telecommunication Union, research from Pakistan research indicates that 39 percent of female social media users in Pakistan have encountered some form of harassment via messaging apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, among others. This further leads to several acts of evil in our society, such as blackmailing, kidnapping for ransom, suicides, physical sexual assaults and sexual grooming of underage children. The government and Pakistan Telecommunication Association are strongly urged to take stringent regulatory and preventive action on cyber laws to combat online harassment in Pakistan, and in addition, ensure that all cybercrimes are prosecuted.
Sobia Dilpul
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2024.
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