Page 105 - Cyber Safety C-8

21 st #Information Literacy
Century
Skills #Critical Thinking
FAKE PROFILE CASE
In 2017, a teenager in Delhi created a fake social media account using a classmate’s name. The
account was used to post offensive jokes that damaged the classmate’s reputation. The situation
quickly escalated, and the matter was reported to the police. Authorities traced the account back
to the teenager who created it, and legal action was taken against them under Section 66 of the
Information Technology Act (IT Act).
The teenager had created the fake account without the classmate’s knowledge or consent, posting
harmful jokes and comments that caused distress. The classmate and their friends noticed the
offensive posts and immediately reported them to their school authorities. The teenager who created
the account didn’t fully understand the consequences of its actions and may have thought it was
harmless fun, but it resulted in bullying and damage to the classmate’s reputation.
This case highlights the importance of understanding how online behaviour can impact others and
the need to respect privacy. After receiving the complaint, the school contacted the police, who
investigated and traced the account back to the teenager. The student faced legal consequences
under Section 66 of the IT Act, which addresses cybercrimes such as identity theft and online
harassment.

Based on the above case, answer the following questions:

1. Why should we respect others' privacy online?

2. What can happen as a result of cyberbullying, and how can knowing cyber laws help prevent it?

CYBER ETHICS

Cyber ethics refers to the moral guidelines that govern how we behave online. Being a responsible
digital citizen involves more than just avoiding illegal activities, it means treating others with

respect and acting responsibly while using the Internet.
Some key principles of cyber ethics are as follows:

Respect for privacy: Never access someone’s personal information or share anything about
them without their permission. Everyone has the right to privacy, and respecting that is key to
being a good digital citizen.

Digital empathy: Remember that there’s a real person on the other side of the screen. Think
before you post—would you say the same thing to their face? Avoid cyberbullying and spreading
rumours, as these can hurt others deeply.

Cyber Law Awareness 103