The Impact of Digital Harassment and Revenge Porn
When victims of revenge porn or other forms of digital harassment are faced with blackmail, the situation can quickly become overwhelming. The initial reaction is often one of panic – the fear that images or content may be made public drives the victim to comply with the aggressor. However, according to psychologist Mădălina Guluță, “blackmail, in any form, is a crime, and the aggressor should not be allowed to maintain control.” Those who engage in blackmail rely on the victim’s fear to obtain what they want – whether it’s sexual favors, money, or emotional control over the victim. Therefore, the most important rule is not to give in. “If you give in to what the aggressor demands, the blackmail will likely continue, it won’t stop,” explains the psychologist.
Seeking Help and Gathering Evidence
In some cases, victims may attempt to buy time to gather as much evidence as possible without giving in to the aggressor’s demands. “There are situations where the victim can try to obtain more information by playing the role of a cooperative person. For example, they can try to find out if the aggressor is acting alone or as part of a group, if the blackmail is just an empty threat or if they actually possess compromising images, whether real or deepfake. Questions like ‘Where did you get those images?’ or ‘What exactly do you want from me?’ can provide clues about the source of the material and the intentions of the aggressor. This approach must be done very carefully and with the clear purpose of gathering evidence,” emphasizes Guluță.
“Accurate information is the best weapon against manipulation and online harassment.” – Mircea Șcheau, cybersecurity expert
Regardless of how difficult it may be, the most important response is not to remain alone in this situation. “Blackmail thrives on silence and fear. If the victim breaks the silence, asks for help, and acts swiftly, they can increase their chances of stopping the aggressor and regaining control of their own life,” concludes the psychologist. To start this process as quickly as possible, it is crucial for the victim not to remain isolated and to take immediate action.
How to Collect Evidence
“Between the moment the victim discovers the material and when a cybersecurity specialist takes over the case, that content may undergo modifications, be moved to other platforms, or even be deleted to avoid detection,” explains the specialist. To increase the chances of identifying and holding the aggressor accountable, every detail matters: “Any screenshot is more than recommended. Any additional information, any detail that adds complexity to the case reduces the workload of cybersecurity specialists and helps them classify the crime more quickly,” emphasizes the specialist.
Reporting should be as detailed as possible and include screenshots with date and time stamps, exact links to the pages where the content was published, as well as any other evidence that can help investigate the case. “This is not just a recommendation for women, but for anyone facing a digital attack. The better documented the report to the Police and DNSC is, the higher the chances of acting efficiently and quickly,” points out Mircea Șcheau, president of the Cloud Security Alliance – Romania Chapter.
Once compromising content is distributed online, tracking its path becomes a major challenge, especially if it is picked up and redistributed by unknown individuals. “It is not always possible to track exactly how a harmful message is being spread. If it has been taken and redirected from a profile, there is no direct control over how it circulates,” explains Mircea Șcheau. In many cases, victims learn about the existence of abusive content through warnings from friends or colleagues, but if the information is spread in private groups or on obscure sites, tracking and removing it requires more advanced methods.
Data protection is essential to reduce risks in the digital environment. Photo: Shutterstock
However, victims can also turn to specialized platforms for reporting abusive content. These platforms can blacklist sites, reducing their visibility in search engines and preventing access to them on monitored networks. Additionally, there are tools available to check if a specific image or video has been redistributed on other platforms. “There are mechanisms to identify if an image appears on multiple sites or if it has been taken and distributed through various channels,” explains Mircea Șcheau. Among these are Google Reverse Image Search, which allows uploading an image to detect where else it appears, as well as specialized services in protecting digital identity, capable of monitoring and alerting the user to the unauthorized distribution of their personal content.
Another method of protection is preventing the future spread of compromising materials: some platforms allow for the proactive uploading of images, so they are automatically blocked if someone tries to publish them. This technology is already being used by international organizations that combat revenge porn and other forms of digital harassment. “Not all of these methods are available to the general public, but there are tools to track and limit the spread of abusive content. It is important for victims to act quickly, collect evidence, and seek the support of authorities and cybersecurity experts,” concludes Șcheau.
Education, the Key to Digital Protection
“Everything we post on the internet remains there and can be exploited later by cybercriminals. Every photo, every check-in, every group we display ourselves in creates a digital footprint that, sooner or later, someone can use for malicious purposes,” warns Mircea Șcheau, a cybersecurity expert. Therefore, it is essential to think twice before posting personal information on social networks. “Criminals do their job by exploiting these details. We should do our part – set our own limits and filter what we expose publicly,” emphasizes the specialist.
Self-control in the online environment does not mean paranoia but rather a necessary form of digital protection, especially in the context where deepfakes and other types of identity manipulation are spreading rapidly. Careful management of online presence not only protects us from situations like digital harassment, blackmail, revenge porn but also from identity theft or other types of cyberattacks.
For those who want to stay informed and up-to-date on risks and protection measures, there are several recommended official resources: National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC), National Cyberint Center within the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), the Special Telecommunications Service (STS) website, the Romanian Police – online security section, and the sigurantaonline.ro website – a national project to raise awareness of cybersecurity, supported by DNSC, the Romanian Police, and the Romanian Banking Association (ARB). By accessing these sources, users can better understand how criminals operate and take measures to prevent digital attacks. “Accurate information is the best weapon against manipulation and online harassment,” emphasizes Mircea Șcheau.
Conclusion
Digital harassment and revenge porn are serious issues that can have lasting consequences on victims. It is crucial for individuals to seek help, gather evidence, and take proactive steps to protect their digital identity. By understanding the risks, staying informed, and utilizing available resources, individuals can better safeguard themselves against cyber threats and maintain control over their online presence.
FAQs
How can victims of digital harassment protect themselves?
- Seek help from authorities and specialized institutions.
- Do not give in to the demands of the aggressor.
- Collect evidence and report the harassment to relevant platforms.
- Stay informed about cybersecurity measures and resources.
What are some proactive measures to prevent digital harassment?
- Set strict privacy settings on social media accounts.
- Avoid sharing sensitive personal information online.
- Use secure passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
- Regularly monitor online accounts for any suspicious activity.