Social media experts have warned that “sextortion” and revenge porn are on the rise across the globe and South Africa with one of the biggest social media usage is no different to the rest of the world, as cases and incidents continue to soar.
A recent report has indicated that criminals target naive teenagers and young adults alike, including celebrities whose sex tapes become the talk of social media debates on a regular basis.
Among those who have suffered public humiliation when their private activities being made social and mainstream media due to varying degrees of spillages, leakages and blackmail include former minister Malusi Gigaba, and ANC leader in the Free State, Zanele Sifuba, whose ex-boyfriend allegedly leaked an explicit sex tape of her on social media.
It was reported that Sifuba who was recently re-elected provincial speaker and MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture & Recreation had refused to pay her ex-boyfriend R300 000 in blackmail money.
In 2018, former home affairs minister, Malusi Gigaba found himself in the middle of a media storm after a video of a sexual nature, which was allegedly stolen when his cell phone was hacked in 2016/2017, was used in an attempt to blackmail him and was circulated among his peers in the political space.
In May this year, Independent Media reported that, Women For Change, a non-profit organisation that advocates against gender-based violence in South Africa, had come out in support of social influencer, Gcinile Twala, after an explicit sex tape purportedly featuring her was leaked on social media.
The non-profit organisation accused Twala’s former partner, Themba Selahle of leaking the tape on social media.
“Women For Change are deeply appalled and outraged by the sex tape that was allegedly leaked by Themba Selahle, known as ’Grootman’.
“This heinous act of revenge porn is not only a gross violation of privacy but also a deeply traumatising experience for Gcinile Twala.
“We call on law enforcement, policymakers, and community leaders to take a stand against revenge porn and all forms of gender-based violence (GBVF),” the organisation said.
Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA, an organisation that raises awareness about sextortion, describes it as a “sinister tactic” that coerces victims into sharing explicit images or videos by preying on their vulnerabilities and exploiting their trust.
“The perpetrators often masquerade as peers or love interests online, only to turn around and threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim complies with their demands for more images, sexual acts, or monetary payments,” says Collard.
Collard added that another organisation that deals with sextortion and other related issues, the Internet Watch Foundation, had received more reports involving sextortion in the first six months of 2023 than the entire previous year - a staggering increase of 257%.
Sheldon Reid of HelpGuide.org, says being the target of revenge pornography and online abuse can leave one feeling violated and powerless.
Revenge porn involves the unwanted distribution of intimate images, videos, or even sext messages—sexually explicit text messages. The term “revenge porn” can be misleading because it implies that, as the target, you’ve done something to deserve this treatment or that the perpetrator has a vengeful motive. In most cases, “nonconsensual pornography” or “image-based sexual abuse” were more accurate terms,“ Reid said.
Collard said, criminals who engaged in sextortion were always motivated by a desire to solicit money from their victims: “While the modus operandi of sextortion criminals involves the exchange of sexual images, their ultimate aim is money. Financially motivated sexual extortion is usually carried out by organised crime groups who are 100% motivated by money.
“These groups target all ages and genders. However, a large proportion of cases have involved boys aged 14 to 18,” said Collard.
When it comes to revenge porn, experts argue that money is not always the incentive, but public humiliation and other factors are involved.
“The unlawful distribution of intimate private sexual photographs or videos online is a relatively new and highly disturbing phenomenon. Every week the media covers shocking cases where images or videos, which have often been shared between consenting individuals, are subsequently published vindictively to embarrass or shame people. This highly illegal and distressing practice is now known as ‘revenge porn’ ”, said UK based-Simon Burn Solicitors who specialise in such matters.
Saturday Star