By Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
Accra, Aug. 10, GNA – A private moment captured on a mobile phone may last only a few seconds.
But in today’s digital world, that same moment, once recorded, can become a weapon capable of destroying reputations, trust, careers, relationships, opportunities and mental well-being months, and even years, later.
Globally, cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting intimate images and videos to extort money, sexual favours or silence from their victims, a crime known as sextortion.
Unlike conventional blackmail, sextortion thrives on fear, shame and the speed with which digital content can spread across the internet.
A single click can send a private image to thousands of people within minutes, leaving victims feeling trapped and helpless.
For Ghana, where smartphone ownership and social media use continue to rise rapidly, cybersecurity experts believe that public education has become just as important as law enforcement in tackling the growing menace.
Dr Nana Kofi Annan, an Information Technology expert and Senior Lecturer at the Ghana Communication Technology University, says the biggest misconception people have is believing sextortion only happens to celebrities or public figures such as Luv FM’s Rexford Ntim, known widely as DJ KA.
“Everybody can become a target depending on the situation,” he told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in a telephone interview.
According to him, many cases begin innocently between consenting adults in relationships but later become instruments of intimidation after the relationship breaks down.
“Today you may be an ordinary lady or an ordinary gentleman. Tomorrow you may become a politician, a judge, a chief executive, a business leader or another public figure.
The same content that seemed harmless years earlier can be used to blackmail you,” he explained.
Dr Annan described sextortion as a cybercrime in which perpetrators threaten to publish or distribute intimate images or videos unless victims comply with demands, usually involving money or other favours.
He noted that while some criminals deliberately target victims through fake online identities and romantic deception, many incidents begin with videos or photographs willingly recorded by couples themselves.
“The key advice is simple: never record your sexual activities on a phone or any digital device. In this digital era, that decision can become very dangerous,” he cautioned.
His warning comes amid growing international concern over online sexual exploitation.
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has identified sextortion as one of the fastest-growing forms of cyber-enabled crime, driven by social media, encrypted messaging platforms and anonymous online identities.
Similarly, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the WeProtect Global Alliance have repeatedly warned that children and young people are increasingly becoming targets and victims of online sexual exploitation, including sextortion, with offenders often operating across national borders.
Research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also indicates that cyber-enabled sexual crimes frequently go unreported because victims fear public embarrassment, punishment, victim blaming and damage to their personal and professional lives.
Digital trust can turn to betrayal
According to Dr Annan, one of the greatest dangers lies in the false sense of trust that exists within intimate relationships.
Many couples assume recordings made in private will remain private forever, but more often than not, that assumption proves costly.
He cited instances where former partners allegedly used intimate recordings years after relationships had ended to threaten victims who had risen to influential positions in society.
“Information can even be sold to people who wish to blackmail you,” he said.
The problem, he noted, was not limited to disgruntled former lovers.
Cybercriminals increasingly employ sophisticated methods such as fake online romances, commonly known as catfishing, hidden cameras and social engineering to obtain compromising material.
Some criminal networks, he said, secretly install miniature cameras in hotel rooms to capture intimate encounters before demanding payment from unsuspecting victims.
Although there is no evidence to suggest such practices are widespread across Ghana’s hospitality industry, Dr Annan urged the public to remain vigilant whenever staying in unfamiliar accommodation.
He advised guests to inspect rooms carefully and remain alert to suspicious electronic devices that could indicate hidden surveillance equipment.
Mistakes that worsen matters
Perhaps the most dangerous reaction, according to Dr Annan, is paying the blackmailer.
“The moment you pay, you have begun the cycle of paying more,” he warned.
He explained that once criminals realise a victim is willing to pay, they often increase their demands because they know fear has gained a foothold.
He instead urged victims to immediately report the matter to the Cyber Security Authority or the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
Trying to negotiate privately with perpetrators, he stressed, strengthens the criminal’s position rather than ending the ordeal.
Deleting evidence is equally harmful
Many frightened victims erase threatening messages, call logs or emails, believing this will protect them. But in reality, according to Dr Annan, such evidence may become crucial for investigations and prosecutions.
“Keep the evidence. Don’t delete the messages. They can support police investigations and court proceedings,” he noted.
Isolation: Another common mistake
Out of fear of public humiliation and mockery, victims often keep the experience secret while attempting to resolve the matter alone.
“It never works… report it. Seek help. Don’t try to fight the battle by yourself,” Dr Annan advised.
Ghana’s legal protection
Unlike in previous years when investigators relied mainly on provisions within the Criminal Offences Act, Ghana now has a stronger legal framework to address cyber-enabled sexual offences.
Dr Annan said the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), significantly strengthened protection for victims by criminalising the unlawful publication or distribution of intimate images without consent.
He observed that the law had helped discourage some offenders because it provides substantial penalties for individuals convicted of such offences.
Beyond punishment, the legislation has also given victims greater confidence to report cases to the authorities instead of remaining silent.
Cybersecurity practitioners say stronger laws alone, however, cannot eliminate sextortion unless accompanied by widespread public education and early reporting.
Why awareness is very important
Cybersecurity experts argue that Ghana’s increasing digital connectivity demands a corresponding increase in digital responsibility.
The Cyber Security Authority has consistently encouraged Ghanaians to practise good cyber hygiene, including protecting personal information, exercising caution online and reporting cyber incidents promptly.
Its annual Cyber Security Awareness Month campaigns have repeatedly highlighted social engineering, online fraud and privacy protection as critical areas requiring public attention.
Experts believe that digital literacy should extend beyond teaching people how to use smartphones and social media.
It should also equip citizens to understand the long-term consequences of their digital decisions.
For Dr Annan, prevention remains the strongest defence. He insists that the safest intimate image is the one that is never created.
“No matter how much you trust someone today, circumstances can change tomorrow,” he said.
“And once digital content escapes your control, recovering it becomes extremely difficult.”
As Ghana continues to embrace digital transformation, cybersecurity experts say every smartphone user must recognise that privacy in the digital age is fragile.
A moment of trust can become years of torment if private memories fall into the wrong hands.
The lesson, they say, is straightforward but increasingly urgent: think carefully before pressing the record button, or the send or share button.
Know your legal rights, preserve evidence if threatened, refuse to negotiate with online blackmailers and report sextortion immediately.
In an era where personal data has become one of the world’s most valuable commodities, protecting one’s digital privacy may prove just as important as protecting one’s physical security.
GNA
Reporter: Christiana Afua Nyarko
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong