What is cyberstalking? How to spot the red flags and what you should do to protect yourself
Imagine the scenario: A woman bankrupt up with her boyfriend and but wanted to move on with her life. But her ex refused to let matters residuum and, over the next few years, set about harassing her with telephone calls and text messages, even badgering her friends.
He likewise created multiple social media accounts to stalk her, keeping close tabs on everything she did, where she went and who she was with. Photos that she posted on Facebook started circulating on other social media platforms among strangers.
Then one day, her ex showed up on her doorstep demanding to talk. They argued, and he hitting her. She made a constabulary report, simply was so afraid to step out of her habitation that she had to continue unpaid go out.
Or consider the predicament of a adult female whose identity was hijacked.
After receiving numerous messages on her Facebook account from men she did non know, she learnt that someone had been impersonating her on the platform for years, using a bogus business relationship that featured regular posts about her life, her photos and even fake nude shots purportedly of her.
The perpetrator had also sent letters to various men, directing them to contact the target on her real account.
CYBERSTALKING: SIGNS AND RED FLAGS
The above are just ii real-life examples of cyberstalking seen by counsellors at the Clan of Women for Action and Research ( Aware).
And even though these scenarios played out in the digital sphere, cyberstalking involves the same intents every bit physical forms of stalking – to cause unease, fear or downright misery.
It is, however, arguably more than insidious.
Not merely tin can perpetrators hide backside the safety of their screens and private networks, it'due south also difficult to control the access, spread and veracity of information on the Net.
Cyberstalking involves the same intents as physical forms of stalking – to cause unease, fearfulness or downright misery.
Lawyers Jonathan Wong and Riko Isaac, manager and associate director respectively of Tembusu Law, explained that harassment can take the form of threats, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or the publication of identity information, to intentionally harass, alarm or cause distress to the victim.
This includes deportment like following a victim, continued communication or attempts to communicate fifty-fifty subsequently being told to terminate, and keeping the victim under surveillance.
Cyberstalking largely involves similar actions, except the stalker uses online means to go about it. So instead of constant telephone calls and loitering effectually the victim'due south house or workplace, at present it's hassling or threatening text messages, social media posts and emails.
Wong added: "In the cases of stalking via digital means and social media that we've encountered, the perpetrator would create and use multiple sham accounts and profiles to stalk their target, often sending them messages to get their attention or merely to cause badgerer and distress.
"In some more serious cases, there may be threats of causing impairment to a person, his or her reputation, or business."
This is also known equally catfishing , which is when a person creates fake online identities to impersonate or target a victim. This falls nether unlawful stalking and is illegal.
CYBERSTALKING CASES ON THE Ascent
According to the Singapore Police Forcefulness, the number of stalking cases that were accounted to exist cyber in nature increased from 12 cases in 2018, to 26 cases between Jan and November 2021. About 75 per cent of the victims were female.
Wendell Wong, a manager at law firm Drew & Napier, said that cyberstalking may exist on the uptrend given the loftier rate of usage and adoption of applied science in society.
"With the wide availability of social media platforms, messaging applications and other electronic communication platforms, nosotros have, anecdotally, encountered more than cases of cyberstalking.
"At that place have also been more victims approaching united states and other lawyers to seek legal communication, particularly in relation to their potential options under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA). This could besides exist due to a greater awareness of POHA as a tool for protection and recourse," he said.
The number of stalking cases that were accounted to be cyber in nature has increased from 12 cases in 2018, to 26 cases between Jan and Nov 2021.
Shailey Hingorani, Enlightened's head of research and advocacy, said the gender-equality grouping does not accept verbal numbers on cyberstalking per se, equally stalking usually comprises a range of behaviours.
However, its Sexual Assault Care Centre has seen year-on-yr increases in cases of technology-facilitated sexual violence.
This is defined as unwanted sexual behaviour carried out via digital technology, such equally digital cameras, social media and messaging platforms, and dating and ride-hailing apps. And the menstruation from 2022 to 2022 saw the sharpest jump of 36 per cent, from 140 to 191 cases.
Last Apr, Enlightened polled Twitter users on whether they had experienced stalking, both physical and online. Out of more than 3,000 responses, 31.iii per cent answered "yes" while thirty.three per cent said they were non certain.
Just every bit disturbing are the results of a contempo global survey by cybersecurity company Kaspersky, regarding people'south attitudes towards privacy and digital stalking in intimate relationships.
Involving over 21,000 respondents, the survey found that 30 per cent meet no problem in secretly monitoring their partner via stalkerware, and find it adequate under some circumstances, such equally suspected infidelity and concerns for their safety.
In addition, the Asia-Pacific region recorded the highest agreement level on monitoring in general, with 24 per cent finding information technology acceptable, compared to 10 per cent in Europe and viii per cent in the Americas.
PROTECTIONS Under THE Law
In 2014, the Ministry of Constabulary enacted POHA, which covers a range of anti-social behaviour in both the physical and online worlds, including cyber harassment, bullying, sexual harassment and stalking.
In a statement to CNA Women, the ministry said: "A standalone motorcoach Act was needed to give victims of harassment – both in the concrete world and in the online sphere – better protection."
For instance, previously, women could not obtain an injunction against harassment unless it occurred within the family context. Only with the introduction of POHA, victims of all types of harassment (including online) may utilise for protection orders.
Josephine Chee, a partner in law firm Rajah & Tann, said that since POHA came into consequence, statistics as of May 2022 bear witness that there take been more than i,700 prosecutions and over 3,000 Magistrate's Complaints filed.
Out of 500 applications for protection orders, 200 were granted.
If you find yourself the victim of cyberstalking, it is critical that y'all get together show, whether you intend to file a police report or pursue ceremonious remedies.
The amendment of POHA in 2022 gave even more teeth to the legal response towards harassment, including remedies to tackle doxing and online falsehoods that affect private persons.
Primary among these is the institution of the Protection from Harassment Court (PHC), a specialised court that that enables victims to seek redress and obtain protection faster and more easily.
"We sympathize that the aim of this court is to provide a one-stop solution for victims to receive holistic and effective relief," said Wong of Tembusu Law.
Not only is it simpler for victims to file claims for damages upward to S$twenty,000 and employ for protection orders, those related to the victims are entitled too, every bit they are oft at risk of violence from the harasser also, he added.
If the harassment involves offending cloth almost the victim being published, the courtroom can grant a protection social club that requires the offender or a third political party like a website ambassador to remove it
In cases where false statements most a person were published, the courtroom can order a notification to exist published, alerting readers that what they're reading is false and bring attending to the true facts.
GATHERING Evidence AND PROTECTING YOURSELF
If you discover yourself the victim of cyberstalking, it is disquisitional that you lot gather evidence, whether you intend to file a law study or pursue civil remedies.
"Information technology would be helpful if the victim tin produce testify of the specific instances of cyberstalking," said Wong of Drew & Napier
He advised taking the following steps:
- Take screenshots of electronic communications if any, together with the time stamps and account information.
- Keep records of the acts of harassment, including their frequency, duration and the manner or circumstances in which they were carried out.
- Don't delete distressing messages or block the sender's accounts, fifty-fifty though this may experience counter-intuitive.
Based on anecdotal evidence, Wong said virtually victims are usually able to become some course of legal protection from the courts.
"An offender who is convicted of unlawful stalking under Department 7 of POHA faces a fine not exceeding S$five,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. Enhanced penalties apply for subsequent offences," he said.
Hingorani advised victims to reach out to AWARE's Sexual Assault Care Heart which provides preliminary legal counselling to help them determine on their next steps.
Alternatively, they can visit solidground.sg , a website created in conjunction with AWARE that provides streamlined and accessible advice to victims of online harms, including cyberstalking.
Based on the cases she has seen, however, not anybody wishes to go through the process of constabulary investigations, litigation, court appearances and then on.
"This is a decision that every individual has to make for herself, based on her own practical circumstances and emotional well-being," she said.
PROTECTING WOMEN AGAINST Damage AND VIOLENCE
Beyond laws and regulation, nonetheless, there are signs the government is taking a more holistic arroyo in addressing online harms such every bit cyberstalking and harassment.
Case in point: The Sunlight Alliance for Activity, formed by the Ministry of Communications and Information in July 2021. Its aim is to drive public-individual-people partnerships to tackle online harms – peculiarly those targeted at women and girls – and shut the digital safety gap.
Among the areas it looks into are back up for victims of online harms and raising sensation on the result to foster a more responsible online space through teaching and outreach efforts.
WHERE TO GET Aid
Victims of cyber stalking can lodge a police study at any Neighbourhood Police Centre/Post or via Police due east-services .
For back up, counselling and legal consultations on possible courses of activeness, contact Aware's Sexual Set on Care Centre by emailing sacc [at] enlightened.org.sg ( ) or call the Helpline on 6779-0282, Mon to Fri, 10am to 6pm. Visit this folio for more than information on services.
CNA Women is a new section on CNA Lifestyle that seeks to inform, empower and inspire the modernistic woman. If you lot accept women-related news, issues and ideas to share with us, email CNAWomen [at] mediacorp.com.sg .
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/cyberstalking-online-harms-prevention-harassment-act-299481
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