When the digital space becomes a haven for harassers

At the heart of Digital Bangladesh, where technology promises progress and connectivity, a darker reality lurks in the shadows of social media platforms and messaging apps. Across the country, women often face digital violence with devastating consequences that impact their lives, families, and society at large.

Farzana Sithi, who became a familiar face during the July-August uprising for speaking out against the authoritarian Awami League regime, was subjected to serious cyberbullying in what appeared to be a targeted attempt to discredit her advocacy. “They published my cropped videos and weaponized them against me. While the police at the scene received a medal for ‘handling the situation well’, I became the target of relentless online attacks, trolling and bullying,” he explained. The scale of the attack was surprising. “I discovered 117 fake accounts on Facebook using my name and photos. They used artificial intelligence to create my deepfake videos, which have been viewed millions of times,” he shared. The most disturbing part was that most of those who attacked her (questioned her character, clothes and existence) were other women.

Her experience reveals a disturbing pattern in which online violence is deliberately used to intimidate women activists and distort public narratives about their contributions to social movements.

The latest statistics paint a disturbing picture: gender-based case assessments since 2016 show: 70 percent of women The number of people exposed to cyberbullying has reached 30 percent so far. A. 2019 study published in Asian Journal of Psychiatry It found that cyberbully victimization affects 55 percent of users globally, with Bangladesh showing a prevalence rate of approximately 32 percent among youth aged 14 to 17. Even more disturbing, 27.3 percent of these victims developed psychiatric disorders; major depressive disorder was significantly higher among victims compared to non-victims.

Moreover, the fear of victim blaming often prevents women from seeking justice in cybercrime cases. Dhaka University student Promiti Sankar Atri recently discovered that an unidentified person had accessed her private social media photos and created a fake account to distribute these personal images without her permission. When encouraged to take legal action, Promiti’s response revealed a deeper systemic problem: “I will be blamed for this and instead harassed with inappropriate questions. That won’t do any good.” Their hesitation reflects a common situation faced by female victims of digital harassment who must balance the trauma of privacy breaches with the potential for further victimization within the legal system. Latest data from Police Cyber ​​Support for WomenIt reveals the extent of institutional failure established in 2020. The unit received 34,605 ​​complaints between 2020 and April 2023, of which 26,592 were from women. Alarmingly, 8,947 victims expressly refused to pursue legal recourse; This was an indication of deep distrust in the system.

Dealing with fear and given the difficulties, when victims seek legal aid, this often leads to dead ends. Dhaka-based writer Farjana Akter shared her experience in 2022: “When I received explicit content from someone using their real account, I decided to take legal action. But the system seemed designed to discourage victims.” The police initially refused to lodge a complaint citing jurisdictional issues, and even after registering the case, an endless cycle of hollow assurances ensued. The slowdown of the system after a three-month search for justice actually helped the perpetrator escape accountability.

Digital violence against women is escalating through coordinated misinformation and disinformation campaigns. Initial harassment is often escalated by the creation and dissemination of false narratives, manipulation of content, mass distribution through fake accounts, and the use of deepfake technology to create inappropriate content. Deepfakes pose significant security risks internationally, nationally and personally, potentially destabilizing political environments, manipulating elections and disproportionately harming women through non-consensual sexually explicit content.

Accordingly ActionAid’s 2022 reportThe consequences are severe: 65.07 percent of victims suffered psychological trauma, including depression and anxiety; 42.79 percent lost confidence in online expression; and almost a quarter experienced a devastating loss of self-esteem.

The current legal framework reveals critical gaps in addressing digital violence against women. The lack of clear definitions of the various forms of online harassment makes it difficult for victims to prove their claims. In addition, the obligation for victims to report complaints in person and the lack of anonymous reporting mechanisms pose significant obstacles for women who fear social stigma. The lack of specific timelines for investigation and prosecution means that cases can drag on indefinitely, causing many victims to abandon their pursuit of justice. Perhaps most importantly, the absence of emergency protective orders or any provision for immediate removal of content leaves victims vulnerable to ongoing harassment as their cases slowly move through the system.

Addressing digital violence and creating safer digital spaces requires a comprehensive and innovative approach that goes beyond traditional legal frameworks. Legal reform should start with reclassifying cyberbullying as a cognizable offense and establishing specialized cybercrime units with gender-sensitive training. Expedited trials in digital violence cases and stricter penalties for creating and disseminating deepfake content are important steps forward.

A mandatory AI ethics training program should be established, requiring social media and tech platform employees to undergo rigorous certification on digital consent and preventing gender-based harassment. Simultaneously, the government should develop a unified, encrypted national reporting platform powered by advanced artificial intelligence tools that can detect and flag potential patterns of abuse, with blockchain technology ensuring the preservation of evidence.

Education that integrates comprehensive digital security and consent modules into curricula from primary to higher education should be the cornerstone of this strategy. These programs should teach responsible digital citizenship by focusing on understanding consent, recognizing harassment, and encouraging respectful online interactions. Complementing this, a corporate accountability framework would impose legal penalties on social media platforms that do not promptly respond to reports of harassment, with mandatory quarterly transparency reports and the establishment of a national digital ombudsman office.

To support victims, the government should create a technology-enabled support network that includes counseling resources, anonymous support groups, and real-time legal advice channels. Free digital security audits and protection services will provide immediate relief to those experiencing online harassment. Additionally, international cooperation will be vital, with cross-border mechanisms for monitoring and reporting digital violence allowing the sharing of technological solutions and best practices across different jurisdictions.

The promise of Digital Bangladesh cannot be fully realized until digital spaces are made safe for all citizens, regardless of gender. As we advance technologically, we must ensure that progress does not come at the cost of women’s safety and dignity in the digital environment. This requires not only institutional change, but also a fundamental shift in the way society views and responds to digital violence.

Mahiya Tabassum andis a writer, journalist and sub-editor of The Daily Star. He can be reached at (email protected).

The views expressed in this article belong to the author.

To follow Daily Star Opinion on Facebook For the latest opinions, reviews and analysis from experts and professionals. To contribute your article or letter to The Daily Star Opinion, see shipping instructions.