Op-Ed: The Dichotomy of Cambodia's Digital Age for Young Women and Girls

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The digital age has brought significant advancements and opportunities, but it has also introduced new challenges, particularly in the realm of online safety. In Cambodia, these challenges are becoming increasingly hard to ignore, marked by a disturbing rise in online harassment and child exploitation.

Imagine being a young woman in Cambodia, logging into Facebook only to be met with offensive messages and relentless stalking.

This was the reality for 26 percent of Cambodian internet users in 2018, predominantly young and adult females aged 15 to 65.

The online world, meant to connect and empower, has instead become a battleground for many, with cyberstalking emerging as the most common and insidious threat.

Facebook, a platform meant for social interaction and connection, frequently becomes a venue for these distressing incidents. What's even more alarming is that nearly half of the reported harassment cases were committed by individuals unknown to the victims. This anonymity only serves to embolden perpetrators, making the online abuse feel pervasive and inescapable (LIRNEasia, 2018).

Instances of Child Exploitations

The issue of child online safety is even more pressing. A 2019 report by the Cambodia National Council on Children revealed a staggering 490% increase in reports of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) from 2017 to 2018. The number of reported cases soared from 25,332 in 2017 to 123,896 in just the first eleven months of 2018.

The trend continued in 2021, with at least 30 reported cases of child exploitation and the distribution of pornographic images of young girls and women via the internet in the first quarter alone. In 2020, there were 64 cases involving the distribution of CSAM and adult pornography for online grooming, sexting, sextortion, and other forms of abuse by both local and foreign perpetrators (APLE, 2020).

One particularly harrowing case investigated by Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE) involved a teacher who groomed a 15-year-old girl online, coerced her into sending nude photos, and then extorted money by threatening to publish the images. In another case, an elementary school girl was coerced into performing sexual acts on a webcam by a man from Turkey who contacted her via social media (Li, 2021).

As social media use and online education become more prevalent among Cambodia's youth, experts fear that cases of online child abuse will continue to rise.

Vann Khemreth, a child protection specialist from Friends-International, highlighted that a lack of internet literacy and ethics among children and parents is exacerbating the problem (Taing, 2020). Many parents remain unaware of the profound impact social media, online games, and chat rooms can have on their children's sexual beliefs and practices (Baury, 2018).

Online Safety in Cambodia

In Cambodia, the awareness of online safety is a tale of two worlds. In urban areas like Phnom Penh, young people aged 15 to 35 generally understand the importance of online safety. A report on the Digital Economy, however, found that a majority of respondents expressed concern about potential hacking and scams while using digital platforms (Chan et al., 2021).

Yet, just a few miles away in rural areas, the story is starkly different. Here, internet usage is rapidly rising, but basic awareness of online dangers lags far behind. The UNDP's 2020 report highlights that young people in rural areas have lower proficiency in safeguarding against digital threats such as scams and phishing compared to other ICT skills (UNDP, 2020).

Imagine a young girl in a rural village, exploring the internet for the first time. She stumbles upon social media, a world full of possibilities but also rife with unseen dangers. Without proper knowledge, she is at risk of falling prey to cyber predators. This is not just a hypothetical scenario; it is a harsh reality for many.

As Cambodia navigates the complexities of the digital age, addressing these disparities and enhancing online safety education is crucial. Protecting vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, from the pervasive threats of cyber harassment and exploitation requires concerted efforts from all sectors of society.

By raising awareness, improving digital literacy, and ensuring robust legal frameworks, Cambodia can work towards a safer online environment for all its citizens.