The news of frequent victimization of women in cyberspace is not surprising indeed especially in a country like Bangladesh where most of the online users are amateur in computer literacy. Women are often lured by hoax messages and fake identities in social media and they fall prey to offenders in cyber space as well as the real world.
Over the last few years, the developments in technological innovation along with their easy accessibility have instilled a positive paradigm shift in the way we live. Born in the lap of new technological innovations and their intense intervention in every aspect of our life, cybercrime has become the talk of the time, thereby, cybersecurity—a demand of the time.
We need to formulate and implement
appropriate and updated
cybersecurity policies
Cybercrime is a relatively modern phenomenon in Bangladesh and can take many forms. It is diverse and ever evolving. Cybercrimes that are commonly prevalent in social media are cyber obscenity pornography, cyber stalking, hacking, cyber defamation, and privacy infringement. Reportedly, 70 percent of cyber crime victims in Bangladesh are women and this highlights the vulnerability of women in Bangladesh no matter where they go, what they do, and how they dress and speak.
Because of sheer lack of awareness about cybercrime, thousands of online users are becoming victims of cyber crimes. Experts assert that the main challenge in dealing with such cases and arresting the culprits is the delay in reporting to police. Many victims do not want to go to the law enforcers fearing that their identities would be revealed.
As cybercrime is an emerging threat and no one is fully secure these days, emphasis should be given on how we can control cybercrimes with continuous monitoring and act accordingly. In this regard, we need to quickly frame an appropriate and updated cybersecurity policy, create adequate infrastructure, and foster closer collaboration between all those involved to ensure a safe cyberspace for women. Also, people need to be sensitized about the problem.
Women are today and in the future going to be the main victims of cybercrime in Bangladesh. This is both threat and opportunity for legislators and those working to protect women in physical as well as cyberspace. We must work together for the betterment of half the population, a goal well worth striving towards.