'AGGRESSIVE ATTACKS' How digital violence destroys lives

THIS year for the first time during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV), the United Nations embarked on a powerful campaign to highlight digital violence.

- GESHY REDDY

Digital violence is real. It is not a harmless comment, a joke, or a passing post. It is a weapon. It uses technology to humiliate, defame, threaten, stalk, and silence.

Once shared online, it never disappears — it becomes a permanent digital footprint that follows the victim for life.

Abusers often incite hate, garner others to join and did you know online fighting can become a compulsive and potentially addictive behaviour driven by the release of dopamine and adrenaline?

For five years, I have been subjected to digital violence because I dared to stand up against racism and injustice.

I have endured graphic rape and death threats, threats to drug me, and attempts to terrorise me into silence.

This was all because I responded to a news article. My identity and image was stolen and used commercially to advertise companies, used to campaign for political agendas I never supported, and used to mislead the public.

I was intimidated to leave the political party I belonged to, while my activism was distorted into a political attack.

I fought passionately in Women’s Parliament within the DA, and my submissions were resolved by the Premier's office but the more I stood up, the more aggressive the attacks became.

I was never asked to leave by the party and but did so to protect my family and myself from a one sided political online rivalry. My abuser phoned insurance companies claiming I was his wife seeking to cover me.

Tam a financial planner for 22 years and he assumed would not be able to uses subpoenas to access the evidence.

The Popi Act is not meant to protect clandestine abuse to silence victims.