The instances of online abuse and harassment are growing worldwide, but remain underreported and with very little support for victims, particularly in the Caribbean region. Ashell Forde, the Founder and President of No! to Online Abuse and Harassment (NOAH) discusses: the state of online abuse and harassment in the region; along with the successes that NOAH has been able to realise to date; and even provides advice to adults, and to parents of children who might be experiencing abuse or harassment online.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify and on Stitcher!

Over the past few years, there has been considerable discussion worldwide about cyber bullying, as well as the abuse and harassment that has been occurring online. Moreover, concern has been expressed about these occurrences in the teenage and younger age groups, and the likely and irreparable consequences of those experiences.

Currently, there does not appear to be a universally accepted definition for online abuse or online harassment, but typically they would include, “offensive, abusive, violent, threatening, racist or explicit online content, which is designed to cause alarm or distress” (Source:  Farrer & Co). As a result, actions that could constitute online abuse or harassment would generally include bullying, identity theft, posting false profiles in an individual’s name, or trolling an individual or organisation, which are being conducted via platforms such as email, instant messaging, social media sites, blogs and chat rooms.

To some degree, online abuse and harassment are addressed in most Caribbean countries – typically under their cybercrime and/or computer misuse legislation. However, arguably, these laws are dated, as they would not have contemplated the scope of the issues that can be experienced in this day and age. Additionally, it appears that countries have not been giving online abuse and harassment the attention that it deserves, as little public awareness or education is being done in most countries. It therefore means that generally, citizens are still ignorant of the legal consequences of such activities, and victims of such abuse may not be aware of recourse that is available.

Interestingly, online abuse and harassment does not appear to be an area of focus in the NGO (non-governmental organisation) space, as very few organisations with that objective have been established in the region. An exception, however, is No! to Online Abuse and Harassment, which is based in Barbados.

 

Introducing our guest

Ashell Forde

Ashell Forde is the Founder and President of No! to Online Abuse and Harassment (NOAH), a charity based in Barbados that provides resources to victims of online abuse. She is an ICT professional with over a decade of experience, who has a background in computer networking, and currently works in the field of telecommunications regulation. She has been active in the deployment of several national ICT projects including the Barbados Internet Exchange Point and the National Computer Security Incident Response Team. Ashell is a member of the Internet Society Barbados Chapter, and has worked in collaboration with other ICT professional organisations in Barbados, such as Barbados ICT Professionals Association and the Barbados Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association.

As an enthusiastic technophile, Ashell is active on social media and is very cognisant of the various ways it is sometimes used to cause harm. She is passionate about educating the general public, especially children and young adults, about the responsible use of technology.

 

Insights into our conversation

Without a doubt, the work that NOAH seeks to do is not only commendable, it is also incredibly necessary here in the Caribbean region, as anecdotal observations suggest that online abuse and harassment is prevalent. It is thus disappointing that policymakers and by extension governments, have not initiated (more) programmes to address these issues, as instances of abuse are likely to increase, and the longer term implications for those who have been subject to abuse in the past may become more evident.

Below are key questions posed to Ashell during our conversation:

  1. Tell us a bit of your story, and what drove you to set up No! to Online Abuse and Harassment?
  2. By NOAH’s estimate, how prevalent is online abuse and harassment generally, and more specifically in Barbados?
  3. How does NOAH seek to address the problems of online abuse and harassment?
  4. As a charity, how is NOAH able to provide the services and support it wants to provide?
  5. How NOAH is leveraging technology?
  6. How has been the response to NOAH, by government, the private sector, by citizens?
  7. What are some of the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) or markers of success that are important to NOAH?
  8. What has been some of the successes NOAH has been able to realise to date?
  9. What has been the biggest lesson you have had to learn in starting a charity and in dealing with online abuse and harassment?
  10. Where would you like to see NOAH in the next 3 to 5 years?

 

We would love to hear from you!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

 

Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Image credits: A Forde; Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D. (flickr); J_O_I_D (flickr); RODNAE Productions (Pexels)

Music credit: Ray Holman

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez