In this era of social networking, the distinction between the real and virtual worlds has become more blurred.
It was a matter of time before virtual and online activities began to have consequences in the real world. And this varies according to which country you are in.
In the name of fun, you probably are doing things that can land you in jail, or perhaps you have seen such things from online users, but you didn’t know it’s punishable by law. But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
Dancing in a video
Sounds weird, right? Well, in Iran, this is a serious offense. In 2017, six people were arrested for dancing to the Pharrell Williams song “Happy.” They weren’t so happyafterwards,s as it bought them 91 lashes and 1 year in prison.
Non-consensual sharing of images
Sharing explicit images or videos of a person (revenge porn) without their consent. Intending to cause them emotional distress (shock, pain, etc.), especially if the understanding at the time the content was created was that it would remain private, Penalties for this offense can vary, but it could result in imprisonment, ranging from not less than 1 year to not more than 3 years under Ghana’s laws.
Using a VPN
In some countries, using a VPN can get you in trouble with the authorities. In the United Arab Emirates, VPN use is semi-legal. It is only considered illegal if it is used to make online calls that would otherwise not be possible, download unauthorized media content, or enter restricted websites.
Using VoIP services
Yes! You’re not misreading it. In Ethiopia, you can be arrested for using VoIP services like Skype. The provisions state that there could be a jail term of 15 years. The intention behind this provision is to create a government monopoly over voice communications. But still, it’s advisable not to access Skype if you reside in Ethiopia.
Cyber Stalking
You’ve been ghosted, so now you’re stalking that special someone who disappeared from your cyber life. You taunt them on Facebook and tweet at them day and night, and you’ve made it so they no longer want to go online. Guess what? If they report to the police and it’s proven that you are stalking a person electronically and threatening them, you can end up with a sentence that will keep you incarcerated and offline for some time.
Fraud or theft
Scammers can easily scam people across the globe by pretending to have something to sell and obtaining money electronically. However, this doesn’t guarantee they won’t be caught. Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies use the web to find crime.
culled from wires
Source: Ghana/MaxTV/MaxFM/max.com.gh/Belinda Quansah
