The internet has revolutionised communication and created the highest levels of human interaction during the past two decades. Yet, it has also shaped a platform for online violence that, according to scholars, can surpass the benefits in the long run.
Particularly, online involvement in child exploitation is rising to an intolerable level throughout the world. Cybercrime against children is one of the most persistent issues currently confronted by countries around the globe, including Sri Lanka.
Recently, the Sri Lankan media revealed a horrifying fact in relation to the future of the Sri Lankan youth population. According to the Police Children and Women Bureau, the media highlighted that during only September and October this year, 299 cases of severe female child rape occurred in the country, and another large number of complaints were received on sexual abuse of male children.
The reports revealed that 32 of those raped female children have become pregnant, which adds another serious socio-cultural issue to society if the trend continues. According to police sources, the actual number could be much higher if all such incidents were reported.
The media also reported an incident and the arrest of a youth for possessing thousands of indecent photographs of very young children. It was revealed that the accused has been selling these photographs via online messaging apps for large sums of money.
What is the relevance of the above story to online violence? Recent research has revealed that 9 in 10 porn videos can illustrate sexual violence or aggression. That is especially true considering that these sexually violent narratives can hugely affect the attitudes and behaviour of the viewer. Free accessibility to porn sites through the internet aggravates such conduct and pushes them into sexual violence against unsuspecting victims.
It is abundantly clear that online abuse against children in Sri Lanka, such as sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, extortion and violent radicalisation, is alarmingly on the rise. The current situation is so serious that joint research conducted by Save the Children Fund, the State Ministry of Women and Children, and several other organisations has concluded that three out of every ten children who participated revealed that they have experienced some sort of online violence.
Also, the research revealed that 73 percent of parents find it difficult to supervise children’s use of the internet as they lack awareness of how the internet works and how children can be exposed to online violence.
There are several known forms of online abuse and exploitation in Sri Lanka. Cyberbullying is among the most concerning, with children and adolescents being victimised by sexual harassment, threats and humiliation. Social media platforms are often used for enacting cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying produces a severe emotional consequence that can lead to psychological imbalances, with both instantaneous and enduring drastic repercussions, impacting a child’s mental well-being.
Child grooming is another form of abuse where an adult with inferior and tainted intentions establishes an emotional connection with a child through online platforms.
To manipulate, the offenders pose as mentors, authority figures, dominant and influential adults. This new trend shows a clear escalation in the country during the past few years.
The perpetrators most often use deception to lure children with the intention of sexual exploitation. Grooming can produce drastic short-and long-term psychological and physical effects lasting a lifetime.
Accessibility
There are constant news reports on online child pornography involving both youth and adults as offenders. Due to their easy accessibility through social media, offenders use various online platforms to produce and sell pornographic substances.
Abusive images and videos of children are circulated through online channels, perpetuating the victimisation of children and their abuse for the indulgence of adults. The insecure nature of the internet makes it challenging to combat this issue effectively.
Sexting is sending or receiving sexually inclined text messages, images or videos through a smartphone, computer, tablet or video game. This is another severe issue emerging in Sri Lankan society. The children unknowingly fall victim to this act and are often exploited by immoral adults. This issue has shown a significant upsurge since the Covid-19 pandemic, when children were obligated to use smartphones for education.
The biggest challenge is that a young child may be attracted to sexting as they are more susceptible to dangers because of immaturity and inexperience. More dangerously, they can unknowingly be exposed to legal risks by exchanging indecent substances.
Multiple factors, both controllable and uncontrollable, contribute to online violence and exploitation.
The relative anonymity offered by the internet has encouraged perpetrators to engage in online violence and exploitation without fear of consequences. The digital landscape provides easily accessible tools to hide individual identities.
Although there are legal measures a victim can initiate against offenders, such as civil liability lawsuits or criminal charges, the long process of identifying the offenders discourages them from proceeding with litigation.
The digital landscape provides tools and platforms for persons to hide their true identities, making it difficult for law enforcement to track and apprehend offenders.
According to the survey by Save the Children Fund on “online violence against children in Sri Lanka”, 92 percent of victimised children have not shown interest in seeking legal action due to these delays and other societal factors.
The widespread availability of digital devices and the reach of the internet have increased children’s accessibility to online spaces. As there are no regulatory measures or restrictions, and in the absence of uniform international standards for online safety, children tend to expose themselves to exploitation.
Inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks in Sri Lanka are another setback to taking legal action against cybercriminals. Although there are several agencies, such as the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Cybercrime Surveillance Unit of the National Child Protection Authority and the Police Cyber Crime Division, the enforcement of whatever laws confronts challenges due to multiple reasons, such as the unavailability of skilled manpower, a lack of sophisticated tools and financial constraints.
Most often, the victimised children or their parents hesitate to seek legal assistance due to a lack of trust in the prevailing systems.
Rapidly evolving technology is another hindrance to stopping cybercrime against children, as the tools and tactics of offenders are also advancing concurrently. The proliferation of encrypted messaging apps and other secure communication methods further complicates the detection and prevention of online violence and exploitation.
Lack of awareness of computer-oriented crimes is a strong reason for cybercriminals to operate without fear. Currently, there is no strategised or concerted effort by the authorities to educate and empower children, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
Programs
Therefore, it is a dire necessity to develop educational programs to teach children about the potential risks and how to protect themselves online. Also, parents should be well-informed about the digital platforms their children use and engage in open communication regarding their online activities. Mass media can play a pivotal role in these educational efforts.
At the rate of escalation of online violence, the current legal framework does not seem adequate to bring the perpetrators to book.
Therefore, authorities must introduce new laws to strictly enact and enforce action against all types of online violence. Simultaneously, apart from litigation, a comprehensive rehabilitation system must be developed to support victimised children.
As Sri Lanka moves towards greater digital connectivity, it is imperative to prioritise the protection of children online. To confront this pressing issue, the country needs a multi-pronged approach, including digital literacy education, legal reforms, industry responsibility, and support services.
Protecting children from online violence and exploitation is a shared responsibility that requires the collaboration of governments, technology companies and civil society to ensure a safer digital future for the next generation.
