Multinational Efforts to Strengthen Governance of Cyber Violence (International Perspective) Cyber | Violence | Governance

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The cyberspace is the common home of netizens and should not become a lawless place. The act of online violence against individuals who recklessly release insults, spread rumors, defame, infringe on privacy and other information has occurred around the world, and some have caused serious consequences, becoming a major cancer in the cyberspace. The rectification of online violence requires the joint efforts of the government, online platforms, netizens, and other parties. Some countries have continuously increased their efforts in rectification by strengthening legislation, improving prevention and punishment measures, and carrying out special actions. It is crucial to use the power of governance to severely punish online violence in order to maintain a harmonious, rational, and orderly online environment.

Brazil

Strengthen the propaganda and guide the scientific use of the network

At the subway station in S ã o Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, a themed event called "Embrace Childhood" is being held. At the event, staff distributed child rights protection manuals to parents and explained the precautions for children and adolescents when browsing and using web pages and social media. They called on parents to always pay attention to the hidden risks of digital platforms such as cyberbullying and guide children to use the internet more safely and scientifically.

With the popularization of the Internet and the increase of Internet users, online violence in Brazil has increased year by year. According to a survey by the S ã o Paulo Public Safety Secretariat, in the first half of 2022 alone, the number of recorded incidents of online violence in Brazil exceeded twice that of 2021. Vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, and women in Brazil are particularly affected by online violence. Data shows that 30% of surveyed parents or guardians in Brazil reported that their children have experienced cyberbullying at least once; 43% of young people reported experiencing discrimination incidents online; 31% of young women reported being subjected to aggressive treatment online; 27% of young women reported experiencing online violence.

To protect the legitimate rights and interests of netizens, the Brazilian government has taken a series of measures. According to the Brazilian Criminal Code, when online violence causes serious consequences such as reputation damage and racial harm, the perpetrator will be punished with up to 4 years of imprisonment and payment of compensation for mental damages to the victim. In response to the use of false IP addresses to commit online violence, the court may authorize the police station to use specific means to track them and identify the perpetrator. These measures have laid a strong legal foundation for combating online violence.

Brazilian law enforcement agencies are continuously strengthening their enforcement efforts against online violence, collaborating with social media and other platforms to strengthen platform content supervision, review, and timely delete illegal content. Starting from 2021, the Brazilian government has established an official website and hotline for online crime complaints, encouraging victims to report illegal behavior and providing judicial assistance to victims.

Not long ago, the Brazilian government's Secretariat for Communication publicly solicited opinions on Brazil's media education strategy. This strategy aims to promote the healthy use of network technology, with one goal being to combat fake news, hate speech, and cyberbullying. The government plans to appoint a group of internet celebrities as "media education ambassadors" to guide young people to use social media correctly. Many non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations in Brazil have also participated in activities to maintain harmony in online communities and resist online violence, including organizing publicity and education activities, and carrying out joint actions with telecommunications companies to combat online violence.

Egypt——

Severely punish cybercrime and regulate cyberspace

In recent years, incidents of online violence targeting groups such as women, adolescents, and children have been occurring continuously in Egypt. According to the report "Cyber violence against women: manifestations and protection methods" issued by the Egyptian League for Human Rights and Development in June this year, with the development of the Internet, cyber violence has become one of the serious types of violence faced by Egyptian women. A study published in the Egyptian Journal of Forensic Research suggests that due to the convenience of anonymity and the accessibility of technological platforms, it has become increasingly easy to commit online violence. Online violence has long-term physical and mental health impacts on victims, and sometimes has significant economic impacts.

In recent years, Egypt has successively passed laws such as the Cybercrime Law and the Personal Data Protection Law, aiming to improve the relevant legal framework and further regulate the cyberspace. The Cybercrime Law clearly defines cyber violence as a criminal offence, prescribes penalties for attacking private accounts, intercepting content and other related crimes, and also clearly stipulates extremist and terrorist acts that use the Internet to plan terrorist attacks. The Personal Data Protection Law focuses on protecting all data or information related to specific individuals. The Egyptian government has also opened a 24-hour 108 hotline specifically for reporting online violence and established a dedicated office to handle cybercrime cases.

Egyptian Minister of Social Unity, Nevin Kabaji, stated that online violence should be severely cracked down on and more social activities should be launched to resist online violence. Ahmad Abdul Hafez, Vice President of Cybersecurity Affairs at the Egyptian National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, stated that with the accelerated development of the digital economy, cyber violence has become increasingly complex and destructive. The government is taking targeted digital measures to further regulate cyberspace.

The report of the Egyptian Union for Human Rights and Development also proposes several countermeasures and suggestions, such as strictly implementing existing laws to prevent and deter related crimes; Carry out publicity and consultation activities in schools to improve students' awareness of safe use of the Internet and their ability to protect themselves from infringement; The government provides more support and funding, and actively carries out promotional activities through media platforms. Currently, the Egyptian National Women's Council is actively providing support and assistance to women and girls who suffer from online violence through channels such as seminars, hotlines, and social media platforms.

Belgium——

Compaction main responsibility to provide all kinds of help

According to a survey conducted in 2022, about one-fifth of young people in Belgium are victims of online violence, and 23% of victims are under the age of 25. The survey shows that many perpetrators of online violence are not aware that their behavior is illegal, and a few even believe that doing anything in the virtual online world is allowed.

The Brussels Regional Parliament in Belgium has previously submitted a proposal aimed at combating online violence and better assisting victims, calling on all parties to strengthen research on online violence, so that the government can better understand the severity of the problem and take targeted measures to address it. The relevant person in charge of the Namur police station in Belgium stated that in the online world, sometimes a malicious word, a randomly edited video, etc., can have an infinitely amplified impact after several rounds of dissemination, causing devastating damage to the victims. Cyber violence poses a challenge to the order and security of cyberspace, and those who commit it recklessly must be severely punished.

In response to the increasingly serious problem of online violence, the Belgian government has set up a hotline for parents and teachers to report cases of online violence, and provides psychological counseling, legal aid, and other services for victims. For example, the toll free hotline number 103 is answered by professionals every day from 10am to 24:00 to help victims of online violence solve their problems. Belgium's "Focus on Children" public service hotline provides educational consultation services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to educate parents about relevant knowledge and avoid making children perpetrators or victims of online violence.

The Belgian Agency for Security and Prevention pointed out that many victims of online violence are unwilling to report to the police due to privacy concerns. The Belgian Institute for Gender Equality has put forward corresponding plans specifically for such cases, suggesting that with the help of professionals, victims should organize non privacy alarm materials and provide a series of assistance, including psychological comfort and legal counseling.