BARA’AH AKRAM

Jordan — The digital space has become a renewed arena for violating women's privacy and perpetuating violence against them, as cyber blackmail has become a dangerous tool that exploits the social structure and the culture of "shame" to turn many girls' and women's lives into a hell of threats and material and psychological drain.

Researcher on women's issues, Nancy Al-Ajarma, confirmed that women and girls are the most affected and most likely to fall into the web of cyber blackmail, due to fear of severe societal repercussions and reactions from their surrounding environment. She pointed out that the nature of conservative societies makes women hesitate and feel ashamed to confront the blackmailer or directly approach the relevant security authorities, for fear of their reputation and to avoid the disintegration of their families if they are married.

Economic and Psychological Drain Leading to the Brink of Collapse

Nancy Al-Ajarma explained that blackmailers exploit this weakness and hesitation to exert maximum pressure, saying: "Many of the cases we have encountered were completely drained before deciding to break the silence. Women were forced to sell their gold jewelry, cars, or take out loans to meet the blackmailer's financial demands. When the victim is unable to pay, the blackmail turns into pressures and sexual demands that violate her dignity, body, and principles."

She noted that this continuous pressure causes devastating psychological effects, often leading to severe panic attacks, prompting some girls to take medical sedatives, and in some cases, it may lead to thoughts of suicide due to the immense moral burden and their inability to speak out and share.

She added: "Although the security agencies and the cybercrime unit intervene, confiscate the blackmail materials, and close the files, we still face the greatest challenge of treating the inner anguish and suppressed screams of survivors due to fear of society, family, and work environments."

Motivations for the Phenomenon and Unsafe Virtual Spaces

Regarding the reasons for the escalation of these crimes, Nancy Al-Ajarma explained that the economic factor and the spread of unemployment have pushed some young men to take up hacking and blackmail as an illegitimate source of quick financial gain, exploiting the ease of hacking unsecured phones.

She also stressed the need to enhance digital awareness among women, and not to treat social media platforms as a "safe haven" for escaping psychological pressures or social problems. "Excessive trust in the virtual world is the first gateway to falling into the blackmail trap. The digital space is not an absolute space of safety; it requires vigilance and extreme caution, starting from securing phones, not opening unknown links, to not leaving devices open in workplaces or sharing private matters in good faith."

The researcher on women's issues, Nancy Al-Ajarma, concluded her remarks by affirming that breaking the culture of fear and immediate reporting are the first line of defense to protect women's dignity and safety in the digital and societal space.