Writes Zeus, Content Writer, Headline Diplomat eMagazine, LUDCI.eu
Coronavirus turned the world upside-down in its first wave. Many people had to adjust to the new norm of social distancing, wearing a mask, and sanitizing. Besides, millions of people died, some lost their jobs, and schools were closed.
As of today, people are still dying but the pandemic has even brought more challenges than before. It continues to impact the global economy and social norms in a way that was never imagined. The long-term effects of the pandemic and consequent mitigation efforts may not be comprehended for some period.
The reality is that Coronavirus has affected almost every aspect of life, from school closures to crippling the tourism sector, social distancing rules, and even closing places of worship. Apart from that, the epidemic has also led to increased cybercrime, financial fraud, and dupery. The digital networks that people use daily to socially communicate, pay bills, and conduct businesses are in danger of falling victim to a criminally motivated system of attack.
How Criminals use cyber to attack kids and vulnerable people
With increased unemployment rates worldwide, many people have become vulnerable and human traffickers are taking advantage to target such people. Also, since most streets around the world have fewer people to mug, many criminal activities have been transferred online. As a result, there have been increased cases of human trafficking online ever than before.
The cybersex industry is a billion-dollar industry globally. And it’s spreading out in developing countries like the Philippines, where more kids are being abused because of high poverty levels and a developing cyber scheme. For instance, there have been reports about Cybersex in Ibabao, a seaside village 500 kilometers south of Manila, Philippines. Children are forced by neighbors or even their own parents to engage in sexual acts in front of web cameras. The videos are ordered and paid for by pedophiles around the globe, are aired live on the internet.
According to a statement by Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, he said, “It is precisely when our global community is convulsed by a crisis of this magnitude that our obligation to combat the exploitation of vulnerable people becomes most acute.” He added, “Children, at a time of school closures and potentially more hours spent online, face a greater risk of online grooming. Victims of forced labor find themselves with even fewer options of survival and less legal protection.”
During the pandemic, there have been reports of increased child abuse and exploitation in the US and abroad. The spike has been caused mainly due to more time spent on the internet by kids and their abusers. As reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reports of online enticement doubled in the second half of 2019 from 6.3 million to 12 million. “Online child exploitation right now is probably one of the biggest problems, from a crime perspective, in our country,” said Lt. John Pizzuro, Commander of the Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The biggest challenge when it comes to tracking down cybercriminals is weak judicial systems. In 2012, the Philippines government passed a law, making cybersex punishable by all forms. However, the implementation of the law is very weak. Dolores Alforte, a member of the Philippine government, told DW, “The problem is that many cybersex enterprises are located in private homes and the police cannot raid them without a permit from the court.” So, this is a major hindrance when it comes to combating cyber criminals.
International bodies like Interpol are working with governments to combat cybercrimes and put offenders behind bars. In 2014, the Philippine police, supported by Interpol arrested 58 suspected members of the cybersex extortion syndicate. Users worldwide were enticed into exposing themselves through webcams and then blackmailed. Interpol’s Singapore-based digital crime investigator Sanjay Virmani said, “The scale of these extortion networks is massive and run with just one goal in mind – to make money regardless of the terrible emotional damage they inflict on their victims.”
Most governments lack innovative tools to tap into criminal slavery networks. “You have to know exactly where to go,” said Sharon Nimirovski, head of White Hat, an Israeli cybersecurity firm staffed by former military intelligence agents. She added, “You have to go undercover and live the hacker cyber scene, know its structure and pretend to be someone you are not in order to retrieve the data you are looking for.” With the right tools and staff, most governments can crack online criminal networks and protect our kids.
Another cybersecurity expert, Sherrie Caltagirone, the founder and executive director of the Global Emancipation Network (GEN), said, “The majority of trafficking happens online, so the good news is it can be countered with technology,” he added, “If we approach it as a data problem, it empowers us to do something about it.”
Conclusion:
With pedophiles attracting more revenue than adult pornography, kids are in great danger now that they spend more time on the internet than ever before. As parents, it’s our duty to protect kids from cybercriminals before it’s too late. Increase your kid’s awareness, protect the computer, secure your kid’s identity, monitor their activities online, and prevent cyberbullying.
On the contrary, governments should develop appropriate and effective laws that protect kids and other vulnerable groups from cybercriminals. Most offenders get away because there are no well-defined laws to arrest and prosecute them. International bodies like Interpol and FBI are already helping governments to crack down on cybercriminals, and they also work hand-in-hand with the local police.
Governments should also hire the right personnel and acquire the right tools to crack down on cybercriminals. If all these measures are overseen, then our kids will be safe even as the pandemic continues ravaging nations.
