Police warn against spreading revenge-porn

THE police yesterday urged the public to “end the creation, distribution and third-party circulation” of revenge-porn.

Deputy inspector general for operations, major-general James Tjivikua said numerous videos distributed of late have been “ostensibly recorded and distributed without the consent of the women concerned and circulated to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass the affected persons”.

Due to the transnational nature of the internet, he said, these “abhorrent recordings have potentially been distributed internationally causing irreparable harm to the dignity and privacy of these women, their families and others affected”.

The police further said that the dignity and privacy of the people involved in the videos were both “constitutionally enshrined and protected rights” therefore those who violated these rights may be punishable by law.

Third parties were also cautioned not to cause further harm by transmitting such content.

Tjivikua called on the “moral consciousness” of Namibians to “end the creation, distribution and third-party circulation of such repulsive communications.”

Victims of these assaults were encouraged to register criminal charges at their nearest police stations.

Former Mr Gay Namibia and activist Wendelinus Hamutenya yesterday, however criticised the police statement claiming that it solely catered for women and did not include gay rights.

“We feel discriminated against,” he said, adding that there was a video of two men having sex in a toilet that circulated a few weeks ago, yet nothing was said about it.

“Why? What is so important about these women?” he asked.

Although Hamutenya condemned the “barbaric nature” of exposés, he said rights were for everyone.

“Before you are gay, you are human,” he said. “The families of the gays are also affected. We are all equal before the law, regardless of our sexual orientation. We are disappointed in the police. They are taking sides.”