With more and more children
becoming digital citizens, it is not surprising that juvenile cybercrime is on
the rise. The number of Amdavadi teenagers gaining access to computers and
mobile phones has shot up, and it is reflected in the 63 per cent surge in teen
cybercrime registered in a single year! Sexting, visiting porn sites, sharing
nude photographs, illegally downloading music and software are lesser crimes.
Creating fake social media profiles, online bullying, trading porn material,
and computer hacking are harder crimes that draw police attention.
In 2013, 90 cybercrime
cases committed by juveniles were registered.This rose to 147 in 2014. However,
in comparison to 2011, when the number of such cases registered was only 16,
cybercrime committed by juveniles has increased by 800 pc so far.
EASY ACCESSIBILITY
Social media experts and
police also blame easy accessibility, limited supervision and affordability of
technologies to increasing juvenile involvement. “We have had parents approach
us when they discover their child received lewd messages. But on investigating,
we find that the sexting is mutual,“ say police, adding, “Children who sext can
be blackmailed. For instance, if a girl sends a photo of herself to her
boyfriend, he may use it to force her to have sex or do something she doesn't
want to and blackmail her if she refuses.“
Sexting could be considered
an offence (under Section 67B of the Infor mation Technology Act, and certain
sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) and
minors can be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act.
LIMITED SUPERVISION
Child psychologist Dinesh Rawal
was approached by parents of a 14-yearold child who was obsessed with a female
classmate. “Every day, he would stalk her on various social media platforms. If
she liked any guy's posts or picture, he would get upset. He even created a
fake profile with her pictures that he operated for months until her family
lodged a complaint.“
Experts said, “Cellphones
are integrated. Teenagers can easily access social networks irrespective of
location or time. The internet empowers the teenagers by giving them the
ability to be anonymous or mask their identities. It gives them a false sense
of immunity, putting them on the slick downslope of crime.
According to a TCS social
media report, more than 80 per cent of teenagers are active in some or the
other kind of social networking site. “Most teenagers are glued to their phones
or computers. Many cannot control their urge to surf the internet and go online
the minute they return home from school. The problem is that many parents are
not to monitor their children's surfing habits. Then there are parents who do
not keep a strict watch on chats, games, tweets and other online activities as
they consider it an `invasion of privacy'.“ Social media expert Rajnish Mehra
said, Kids become tech-smart early.Media or movie portrayal of hackers as
hacktivists or rebels encourages teenagers to emulate their `heroes'.“
“Teenagers have easy access
to the internet and are knowledgeable about technology but they do not know
where to draw the line. They do not know what is illegal. I know of six cases
where the children did not realise they were committing a crime,“ said
Inspector (Cybercrime) Kiran Patel.
Ambawadi trader turns cyber
victim
A 29-year-old Ambawadi
businessman lodged a complaint against an unknown offender who morphed his
photographs with blondes and posted them on two fake profiles to malign his
image.
On October 21, a few
friends alerted the man about his photographs with girls on a certain Amit
Shah's profile on Facebook. Shah had sent a friend's request to all friends of
the trader.On October 26, his friends again brought to his notice a profile of
Kinjal Mehta where some more photographs were posted. The businessman
approached Cybercrime Cell. “The offender is Chintu Shukla of Mumbai. The
trader claims not to know Chintu,“ said PI M A Rathod. A team will arrest
Chintu in Mumbai.“His intention will be clear after interrogation,“ said ACP K
N Patel. VIJAY ZALA
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