Res.Asst. Ahsen AKDEMİR of IMU Law Faculty published her article titled ‘A Phenomenologıcal Study on the Typology of Violence Against Women and Perpetrators in the Cyber Environment’ in the 2022 issue of Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Law Journal.
AKDEMİR stated that the widespread use of the internet has introduced new forms of crime, particularly crimes against women, such as threats, insults, harassment, stalking, and fraud. These acts are categorized as cybercrimes that harm women emotionally, physically, and economically. With the increasing role of social media in today’s society, these cases are on the rise, especially involving threats against victims who know each other. Unlike traditional criminal profiles, individuals committing these crimes online can easily conceal their identities, making it easier for them to commit crimes.
In her research, AKDEMİR conducted a phenomenological study involving twelve victims of cyber violence, eleven of whom were women and one was a man. The primary aim of the study was to develop a typology of both offenders and offenses in this category of crimes and to evaluate the perceptions of victims regarding the justice system in Türkiye. She compared victims who reported the crimes to law enforcement with those who did not and examined the consequences of these types of attacks.
AKDEMİR pointed out that crimes have always existed in society, with both offenders and victims. If a crime can be attributed to specific individuals, they become the victims; otherwise, society as a whole becomes the victim. Over time, changing societal structures have made women vulnerable to certain crimes due to patriarchal norms, leading to physical, psychological, and sexual offenses against women, such as sexual harassment, stalking, sexual assault, threats, insults, and physical assault. While the world has evolved, the types of crimes against women have not changed; instead, some of them have migrated to the virtual world with the advent of the internet.
Regarding the general history of violence against women, AKDEMİR stated that women have been subjected to violence for centuries, driven by the belief that controlling women’s sexuality was necessary for the preservation of the human race. Consequently, various acts of violence, including coercion, threats, assault, murder, female exploitation, sexual violence, sexual assault, and false promises of marriage leading to deflowering, have been perpetrated against women. AKDEMİR noted that despite progress in women’s rights and legal improvements, violence against women persists due to the learned behavior passed down from generation to generation, creating a vicious cycle.
AKDEMİR discussed the role of social media in modern society, highlighting its significant impact on communication and information sharing. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter have billions of active users worldwide, providing easy ways to share various types of content, including text, images, and videos. AKDEMİR emphasized that social media has also influenced the legal framework, expanding the concept of the place where crimes can be committed. For instance, defamation, as defined in the Turkish Penal Code, includes messages shared through various means, including social media platforms. Users have the option to keep their accounts private to prevent unwanted access.
In conclusion, AKDEMİR noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased online interactions, particularly among young people during lockdowns. With the growing use of social media, the risk of various types of cybercrimes has expanded. AKDEMİR emphasized that these crimes can be as damaging as those in the physical world and that any regulatory measures must consider this reality. Furthermore, she observed that women are not safe in the virtual world, just as they are not safe in the physical world.