Is TikTok becoming another hunting ground for online predators? This is deeply concerning as a girl in Lahore was allegedly gang-raped by a friend she made on TikTok.
The two had met online via the video-sharing app TikTok. ARY News reported that a Lahore resident was allegedly gang-raped by three men including her ‘TikTok friend’, Shiraz.
A female victim has filed charges against her online predator and his accomplices at Millat Park police station in Lahore. Police officials state that the complaint was filed on the request of the victim.
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Police also revealed that legal action will proceed after the victim’s medical tests are carried out. It is yet unclear is the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing will be involved since they will need to track down the accused via his TikTok account
In her police complaint, the girl detailed that she had befriended a TikTok user ‘Shiraz’ via the video-sharing app 20 days ago. According to her police statement, Shiraz then called her to come to the Samanabad area on July 13th. When she arrived Shiraz asked her to sit in his car. Two men were already seated in the vehicle.
She was then gang-raped by all three men over gunpoint inside the vehicle. It is unclear if this is the first instance of Shiraz’s online predatory behavior.
TikTok is immensely popular in Asia among tweens and teens. Right now it is also unclear if the victim was a minor.
Online Safety in Pakistan
Despite the boom in social media and other online platforms in Pakistan, no one is taught about online safety and cyber security.
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Much like we inform children about stranger danger in real-life, we must ensure that they are wary of red flags online as well. Minors and young adults are catfished, and often lured into kidnapping and trafficking.
While even gullible adults also fall prey to online scams and can be lured into money laundering and identity theft.
The solution offered to protect minors from online behavior is often the complete prohibition of using online platforms. This just keeps these minors in the dark making them unequipped to identify red flags and report someone to the authorities.
