Cyber Concerns Continue: CSWC Decries Circulation of Assault Victim’s Images Despite Court Order

Despite directives from the High Court and reports made to Meta, explicit photos and videos of a 25-year-old rape survivor from Bahechar Pachkitta village in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla remain accessible on social media. Cyber Support for Women and Children (CSWC) has expressed deep concern over the matter.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 1, the coalition condemned the continued digital circulation of such materials and presented several urgent demands addressing the broader issue of online gender-based violence.

CSWC, a coalition of 13 civil society organizations working for cyber safety and public welfare, emphasized the importance of protecting the identity and privacy of survivors of sexual violence. The coalition demanded that no personal content be disseminated online without the explicit consent of the victim and urged the strengthening of legal frameworks to ensure the security of personal data.

To combat the growing threat of technology-enabled gender-based violence, CSWC called for several legal and institutional measures. These include the mandatory acceptance of digital forensic evidence in relevant cases, the formation of a dedicated cybercrime cell for prompt response, the inclusion of digital literacy in academic curricula, proper enforcement of existing laws ensuring data confidentiality, and an urgent update to the Pornography Control Act, 2012 to reflect contemporary challenges.

The CSWC alliance includes organizations such as Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Cyber Crime Awareness Foundation (CCAF), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Arodhyo Foundation, Article 19, Institute of Informatics and Development (IID), The Tech Academy, BRAC, Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Cyber Teens, Digitally Right Ltd, and Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).