Videos of Molested Victims On Social Media : Can Perpetrators Be Booked

For some time now in Cameroon, the social media has been ablaze with violent images and videos of youthmolesting their peers in homes, streets and other social gatherings. The reasons are for alleged thievery, snatching of one’s love partner and many others. On June 8, 2022 about 1 pm, Neris Ayuketang, Enjei Doris Kendra Assi, Sandra Sirri Ngomba and Bih Bernice Assi beat up Essou Marinette terribly at Check Point in Buea after shaving her hair, unclothed her and put pepper in her private part. The victim was paraded stark-naked in the streets at Check Point behind Omnisport Stadium Molyko Buea while every stage of the atrocious scene was recorded, and later shared on social media using the victim's phone. Two weeks later, a similar ordeal befell Arrey Clara in Buea, a young lady accused of stealing perfume in a shop in Molyko. She was made to kneel down in the said shop. The proprietress who was interrogating Arrey Clara, slapped her severally in the face as the interrogation unfolded. The act was videotaped and the video went viral on various social media platforms. But these atrocious acts have not been positively received by all social media users. Ndape Sally, a human rights activist at Community Initiative for Developmental Action, intimates that recording and sharing such images on the social media is violation of the privacy of victims. That sharing such content has lasting effects on the reputation of victims given that information uploaded on the social media cannot be deleted. That it tampers one’s mental health, leads to depression, trauma and possible death through suicide in most cases. “Sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have the flashback strategy that always reminds victims of these traumatic scenes. This can take a negative toll on family growth, career, education and even social interactions,” she explained. Barrister Asu Vitalis Alcom of LOHTABU Law Firm in Buea explained that Law No. 2010/012 of 21 December, 2010 relating to Cyber security and Cybercriminality in Cameroon in Chapter IX part IV deals with protection of personal privacy ...