MORPHING: A NEW AGE CRIME
Author: Parkash Chaudhary
INTRODUCTION:
The evolution of internet is indeed a blessing to the whole world. This has led to the globalisation of the world and made the world one global village. The advancement of digital technology is a boon as well as a bane for the world. Advancement of internet and the information technology has given rise to the crimes against women. Women were already subjected to so many crimes and this new age crimes are also evolving on a larger scale. Internet has proved to be a platform for various opportunities but this platform has challenged the women’s dignity, privacy and her rights. It affects the mental health. It basically cause mental harm to the victims of these crimes. The information and technology is used by the criminals as a platform to defame women, by stalking them and sending obscene images to them. Worst of all these crimes is making pornographic videos by morphing the images of the women without their consent. It creates a stigma on the part of women who suffer morphing. Morphing as a crime is increasing day by day as it has now become very easy to download images of the women from social media. It is done by editing the pictures of the women and misuses them in the pornographic videos. It is worst because in some cases women even do not know about the fact that their images are being used in some pornographic videos or pictures. There are many resources and sites on which these morphed images are being published.
WHAT IS MORPHING?
First I would like to ask “Are women Safe on the Internet?” According to me, NO.
Morphing is misusing the pictures of women to promote sex chats and pornographic materials. It is one of the cybercrimes which has evolved in recent times. Due to increase craze for social media morphing is also increasing challenging the dignity of women. The pictures of women are modified and posted and circulated through different sites without their consent. This is usually done by the cyber criminals to extort money from the victims. Due to the fear of social stigma the victims give the demanding money in order to get deleted the pictures from the social or adult sites. They upload pictures and demand money to delete it.
ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN MORPHING:
Every sixth cybercrime in India is committed through social media, Alok Mittal, the chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said. Though he did not divulge the basis of his findings, data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show around 70% rise in cybercrimes annually between 2013 and 2015.[1]
Social media has hampered the privacy of women to a great extent. Most of us enjoy uploading photos on social media but now it has now become a matter of concern because these pictures are being used by cyber criminals. The new age crimes are increasing due to the advancement in digital technology. One of these crimes is morphing wherein the ill-intentioned men misuse the pictures of women in creating pornographic videos and then circulate and upload it on the social media site and the adult sites. These men create fake ids on different social media sites to download pictures of random women.[2]These crimes are done due to malafide intention of men to take revenge, or to insult the modesty of women. Social media has become a platform for ill-intentioned men to hurt the modesty of women.
Amnesty International India recently launched a campaign to address the issue of online violence faced by women in the country. It has been interviewing women who express their opinions online, documenting their experiences of being active on social media platforms and the violence they regularly face online.[3]
LAWS AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN RELATED TO MORPHING:
- Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code talks about “outraging the modesty of women”.
Under the Information Technology Act 2000 there are several provisions under which these cyber criminals can be punished:
- Section 67 deals with publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form. [4]
- Section 66E deals with privacy violation. Whoever, intentionally or knowingly captures, publishes or transmits the image of a private area of any person without his or her consent, under circumstances violating the privacy of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine not exceeding two lakh rupees, or with both.[5]
CONCLUSION:
Legal awareness related to cybercrimes is necessary among the women. As they are easily targeted education should be given related to tackling cybercrimes from the school level. They should made aware about the digital technology and how to deal with crimes related to it. They should know what is cyber law and their rights.
Women empowerment also plays an important role in tackling morphing. It encourages them to file and raise voice against the crime committed against them. NGOs and women advocates can play important role in guiding the victims to raise voice against the misogyny.
Women should also take preventive steps on the social media. They should not share something more than necessary and should not add stranger in their social networking sites.
[1] Every Sixth Cybercrime In India Is Committed Through Social Media: NIA http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/every-sixth-cybercrime-in-india-committed-through-social-media-nia/story-KscgnwjcTZ0pzVeVaOiN6M.html
[2] Cyber Crimes and Laws in India, Live Law, Available at: https://www.livelaw.in/cyber-crimes-against-women-and-laws-in-india/
[3] It’s time to address online violence against women in India, Aljazeera, available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/time-address-online-violence-women-india-180513095849630.html
[4] Cyber Crimes and Laws in India, Live Law, Available at: https://www.livelaw.in/cyber-crimes-against-women-and-laws-in-india/
[5] Available at: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/112223967/
