The release and wide distribution of videos involving sexual activity on social media has become somewhat of a norm in Guyana. It is not professional Guyanese porn stars in these videos. Unfortunately, these videos are often intended to embarrass the person or persons involved. It is a crime.
We have witnessed spiteful exes, those wounded because of infidelity and even acquaintances releasing videos. The few I managed to see, I found distasteful. The individuals who believe it is an appropriate option for revenge, I believe need to be evaluated. Some of them have expressed regret, but once a video is released on the internet there is no way of retrieving it. The victims who are often caught off-guard, or would have been threatened and even blackmailed, need to be counseled. I would imagine that the trauma from being exposed would have long term effects. In some instances, participants would have consented to videos being made but not its distribution. However, what is this obsession with filming sexual encounters?
If one is to visit popular porn sites and search for Guyanese content, videos are there of mostly young people – some of them are even school children. I am quite certain that most of these uploads, all parties would not have consented. We have witnessed bullying, coercion, assault and rape in some of these videos. There have been allegations of people even being drugged and filmed. I believe that people are so bold and fearless when releasing these videos because no one is really being prosecuted. A cybercrime bill was passed in 2018. When these videos are released after a few days the noise quiets, the next thing trending consumes us, and the criminals walk free.
Some time ago a video surfaced of a woman assaulting a young woman and forcing her to perform a sexual act on her husband because she believed the two were having an affair. The man did nothing to help the young woman but simply waited and also encouraged the young woman to pleasure him.
In 2018 there was a video of a young woman being raped. Some believed that it was consensual although the young woman was heard pleading for the activity to stop. The man at the centre of that scandal was later found dead. It was first believed that he committed suicide but later it was said to be murder.
Last year, there was an incident which involved a young man. He was exposed by an individual with whom he had a sexual relationship. This young man subsequently faced abuse on social media and in public. He was taunted, shamed for being involved in homosexuality and even assaulted. He tried to say he was drugged, but there were threats to further humiliate him. There were even false reports that the young man had harmed himself. Recently I learned that he left the country. Him having to leave the country is a testament to the intolerance that exists here. It is unfortunate when one cannot find peace in one’s own country. I know of a few young men from the LGBT community who sought asylum in recent years in places like the United States because they were not comfortable living in Guyana.
When these videos are released, there seems to be a minority condemning these acts and calling for the perpetrators to be prosecuted. It would appear that the majority who choose to partake in the distribution of these videos find them entertaining and many often endorse the humiliation especially in cases of infidelity. What is also disturbing is that the women being shamed in these videos in cases of infidelity are often humiliated by the wives or girlfriends, but the men often seem to face little to no consequences.
Many of us have had experiences where videos of such a nature were sent to our inboxes. Often these videos are unsolicited. Not all of us wish to see humiliation, assault and rape. Not all of us wish to sink further into the depths of depravity that exists here. It is even more disturbing that when these videos are publicized people solicit them as if the content would somehow enrich their lives.
This week another video leaked. A young woman was caught in a hotel with her friend’s partner. The video was posted to social media and later it was revealed that the woman and her partner had conspired to entrap the young woman. Not only was the young woman’s privacy violated, but the hotel which has the responsibility to protect the privacy of their clients allowed a breach in security and did not care about confidentiality. But this is not the first time hotels have erred. One often has to ask, what is privacy in Guyana?
Of course, there were jokes, and the video was shared but then the voices of the minority were heard. Those voices said that the young woman should get a lawyer. The hotel should be sued. The man and woman who allegedly deceived her should also be sued and prosecuted. Whether the young woman would take action is still to be seen. But she should. If these individuals were tried and convicted, it would most likely reduce such occurrences.
This culture of making and distributing these videos could be traumatic not only for the victims, but it can also impact their relatives. As individuals we must be careful who we trust. Seems like we are at a point where before engaging in sexual activities, people would have to search to ensure there are no hidden cameras. Demands would have to be made that electronics with cameras be left outside of the bedroom or away from wherever sexual acts are taking place.
In cases where people are bold enough to distribute such material they should be imprisoned.
The distribution of these videos without thought or fear of the prosecution is another indication of a society in decline.
