Sextortion and the Right to Be Forgotten: Protection from Online Harassment

In the digital age in which we live, online harassment is an issue that people are increasingly concerned about. From Right to Forget dot com we will review the options to combat this problem.

The possibility of someone using your intimate images or videos to extort or blackmail you is a reality that we should not underestimate.

Fortunately, there are tools and laws that allow us  to defend ourselves against this type of situation, such as sextortion and the right to be forgotten.

We will explore what sextortion is, how it works, and how we can defend ourselves. In addition, we will see how the right to be forgotten allows us to control the information that appears online about us and how it can help us in cases of sextortion.

What is sextortion?

Sextortion is a type of online harassment in which someone threatens to post intimate images or videos of another person unless they do what the harasser wants.

The sextortion victim feels intimidated and vulnerable, as the harasser has private information that could damage their reputation and personal relationships.

Sextortion can happen in different ways, from account hacking to emotional manipulation.

For example:

The harasser  could ask the victim to send intimate photos or videos,  or they could steal them from their social media account or email.

Once the harasser has this information, they can use it as an extortion tool to get money, favors, or anything else they want.

Sextortion is not only a felony, but it can also have serious emotional consequences for the victim.

The victim may feel embarrassed, isolated, and may even have trouble maintaining interpersonal relationships. For this reason, it is important to take steps to prevent and defend against sextortion.

Sextortion and the Right to be Forgotten - Smartphone

What is the right to be forgotten?

The right to be forgotten is a legal principle that  allows an individual to request that  personal information be removed from the Internet.

This right is based on the right to privacy and the protection of personal data . In other words, the right to be forgotten allows a person to control the information that appears online about them and protect their reputation.

The right to be forgotten applies to personal information  that is no longer relevant or accurate, or that has been published without the individual’s consent.

For example:

If a person posts false or misleading information  about another person online, the person may request that  that information be removed.

Similarly, if a person wants personal information they posted online in the past deleted, they can also request it.

It is important to note that the right to be forgotten is not absolute and may be subject to limitations. For example, if the information is in the public interest or related to a crime, it may not be deleted.

In addition, the laws of each country may have different criteria for implementing the right to be forgotten.

Sextortion and the Right to be Forgotten - Men

How are sextortion and the right to be forgotten related?

Sextortion and the right  to be forgotten  are closely related, as the right to be forgotten can be a useful tool to prevent and combat sextortion.

If the sextortion victim knows that  there are images or private information  of them online that could be used against them,  they can exercise their right to be forgotten and request that that information be removed.

By deleting that information, the victim can prevent the bully from accessing it and thus can reduce their vulnerability to sextortion.

In addition, by exercising their right to be forgotten, the victim can control the information that appears online about them and protect their reputation.

Of course, the right to be forgotten is not a magic bullet for sextortion, as  the harasser could have copies of the private images or videos in their possession.

However, exercising the right to be forgotten can be an important step in preventing future harm.

Sextortion and the Right to be Forgotten - Offender

How can we defend ourselves against sextortion?

If you’re a victim of sextortion, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. Here are some steps you can take:

Don’t give in to the harasser’s demands: If the bully asks  you to do something  you  don’t want to do, don’t give in to their demand. If you give in, the harasser could continue to extort money from you in the future.

Contact authorities: If you feel threatened or harassed, contact local or national authorities. Online harassment is a crime and the authorities can help protect you.

Report the harassment to the appropriate platform: If  the harassment occurs on an online platform, such as a social network or website, report the behavior to the platform administrator. Many platforms have anti-harassment policies and can take action against the bully.

Exercise your right to be forgotten: If you have private information online that could be used to extort money from you, consider exercising your right to be forgotten and requesting that that information be deleted. This can help protect you against sextortion.

Sextortion and the Right to be Forgotten - Cybercriminal

Conclusion

Sextortion is a dangerous form of online harassment that can have serious emotional and social consequences for the victim.

However, there are tools and laws that allow us to defend ourselves, such as the right to be forgotten.

If you’re a victim of sextortion, it’s important to seek help and take steps to protect yourself. Technology is a powerful tool, but it can also be used to do harm.

We must be prepared to defend our rights and privacy online.

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