Cybercrimes and Violence Against Women Jehan Ara President

Cybercrimes and Violence Against Women Jehan Ara, President, Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES

The Issue ¡The Internet is not creating new forms of crimes against women and children BUT it is creating new ways and means for crimes to be perpetrated

The Flip Side ¡ The Internet is also creating new ways and means for people to: - Organize - Network - Campaign - Bring about Social Change

ICT & VAW ¡ ICTs – encompass a broad range of technologies – internet, mobile, radio, television, wireless technologies ¡ VAW – “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty”

ICT-VAW Connection ¡ Information & Communication Technologies increasingly woven into all aspects of our lives ¡ Has the potential to change inequality by enabling more people to have a say in how we shape our world ¡ ICTs currently have the same power imbalance that leads to VAW

Cybercrimes that affect women ¡ Harrassment via emails & smses ¡ Cyber-stalking ¡ Cyber pornography & Defamation ¡ Morphing ¡ Exploitation of women through use of You. Tube, Facebook & other social media ¡ Email spoofing/tampering ¡ Visual Surveillance & Tracking

What does this mean? ¡ Should women be “protected” from the “evils” of technology? and thereby from its benefits? ¡ Should they miss out on: - Personal Freedom - Educational Opportunities - Employment Opportunities - Entertainment Opportunities - Communication & Networking

Reclaiming the power of ICTs (Take Back the Tech) ¡ Take control, define, access, use & shape ICTs to achieve our potential ¡ Sharing information & knowledge ¡ Capacity Building & Education ¡ Media Alternatives ¡ Networking & Building Solidarity ¡ Creating a power balance

Prevention of E-Crime Ordinance (PECO) ¡ Definitions are inaccurate & vague ¡ Safeguards for rights, liberties and Freedom of Expression not built in ¡ Sweeping arbitrary powers of investigation & prosecution ¡ Huge lacunas & no chain of custody defined ¡ Privacy & confidentiality missing ¡ Abuse possible & extremely likely

So let me set the scene ¡World in chaos ¡Security the buzz word ¡New legislations being pushed through ¡Citizens & businesses – rights being impinged ¡The Internet is creating opportunities that can & have empowered us ¡Legislation is trying to take these away under the guise of “protecting us”

In the Pakistan context ¡The Prevention of E-Crime Ordinance (PECO) ¡Blocking of IPs ¡Monitoring of Telephony (data and voice) Traffic

PECO – impact on businesses & individuals ¡Definitions very vague & often inaccurate ¡ Terms like immoral, obscene & harmful are used ¡Crimes defined very loosely and end with phrases like “but not limited to” ¡No protection for individual & business rights ¡No chain of custody laid down ¡Rights to privacy under threat

How can PECO be mis-used? ¡Terms like immoral, obscene & harmful can be used to criminalize anything ¡Broad powers given to law enforcement ¡No judicial oversight ¡Can be misused for political victimization, to get back at business partners, against individuals and women who do not tow the line ¡Most offences unbailable

Retention of traffic data ¡Service provider must retain its traffic data for a minimum of 90 days ¡The Government may extend the period to retain such data as and when they deem appropriate

How PECO violates the Constitution Article 13 – Protection against double punishment Article 19 – Freedom of Speech Article 24 – Protection of Property

ICT Tribunal ¡Federal Government shall appoint Chairman and members ¡Judiciary and Chief Justice need not be consulted ¡Hiring, Firing, Promotion & bonuses all the purview of the Federal Government

Do we need cyber crime legislation? ¡Yes – but the right kind of legislation ¡No need to reinvent the wheel ¡Council of Europe Legislation on Cyber Crime, Legislation on Data Protection, Legislation on Privacy & Confidentiality ¡International collaboration against cyber criminals

What action have we taken? ¡Joining hands – business, civil society, legal experts, bloggers, the media ¡Policy advocacy using all channels ¡Creating an awareness within the National Standing Committee on IT ¡Constantly keeping the topic ‘hot’

Talking about it on mass media

Creating an awareness

Spreading the message virally

Joining hands

The results

Finally … a small victory ¡The Prime Minister announces in Parliament that he too has reservations against the Prevention of Electronic Crime Ordinance (PECO) & is sending it back to the Federal Committee for reassessment & Public feedback

PECO needs to be re-drafted ¡ All stakeholders should be consulted & draft put up for public feedback ¡ Definitions of crimes need to be clear to ensure against arbitrary arrests ¡ Clear safeguards against surveillance. ¡ Judicial warrants an absolute must ¡ Collection of data should be restricted only to suspects, not mass surveillance ¡ Individuals have a right to recourse

Who needs to be involved ¡ Technology industry – P@SHA/ISPAK ¡ Women Empowerment groups ¡ Development Organisations ¡ Civil Society & Human Rights groups ¡ Corporate sector & Legal experts ¡ Parliamentarians ¡ Mo. ITT, FIA, PSEB, Law Ministry

Once PECO is re-drafted ¡ Pakistan needs to sign: - Co. E Convention on Human Rights - Co. E convention on Data Protection - Co. E Convention on Cybercrime 2001 - Global ITU Cyber Security 2007 ¡ In addition, Privacy & Confidentiality legislation is required

Any Questions? ¡ www. takebackthetech. net ¡ www. bytesforall. net ¡ www. pasha. org. pk ¡ jehanara. wordpress. com