Highlighting yet another example of the darker side of the digital era, it was recently reported that a man faced legal action for earning money through the unethical use of Facebook pages. These pages had been created and promoted using unauthorised photographs of women and then sold for profit. This incident is just one symptom of a broader and growing problem in Sri Lanka’s digital landscape, where there is an urgent need for strong awareness campaigns and better protective measures to protect people against the dangers of online platforms.
The internet and social media have revolutionised how people communicate, share information and do business. The past three-four years, during which Sri Lankans increasingly adopted artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and their popularity grew significantly, is a good example about how fast digital services can grow among ordinary people. While many of these platforms are useful, there are significant risks that many users are not prepared to face.
With the rapid expansion of digital connectivity, online scams, identity theft and the misuse of personal information have surged. Sri Lanka is witnessing a sharp rise in online scams that target users through various means, and the past few years saw a number of such incidents. These include fraudulent online loans that promise quick money, deceptive online games and gambling websites designed to illegally obtain personal data, fake job offers that charge applicants money and fraudulent electronic-commerce schemes. Such scams target peoples’ trust and the lack of digital literacy, and leave many individuals financially and emotionally damaged.
Perhaps the most alarming threat is identity theft, which has become more sophisticated with the rise of AI and deepfake technologies. This situation gets worse as AI tools can now create realistic images, videos and even voices that are difficult to distinguish from real ones. This threatens not only privacy but also broader social trust. For example, the unauthorised use of photographs, like in the aforementioned incident, can cause serious harm to victims’ safety and dignity. In a world where digital footprints define a great deal of our personal and professional identities, attention to these issues is crucial.
Another critical issue is the misuse and abuse of information. Even in the case of online loan scams, many victims had claimed that their personal information had been ‘stolen’ via the apps that they were required to install in order to obtain loans, and that when they did not pay on time, loan-issuing platforms had used that information to threaten them. In politically sensitive contexts such as elections, social media can become a battle ground for the dissemination of misleading narratives and propaganda, and Sri Lanka has plenty of experiences in this regard.
This is not all. Such misuse of digital platforms can lead to a plethora of more issues including harassment, stalking or defamation. Therefore, understanding these risks is the first step and knowing how to navigate digital platforms safely is essential.
In this context, Sri Lanka needs comprehensive awareness-building campaigns focused on educating youth and the wider population about digital risks and how to protect themselves. These efforts must cover critical areas such as recognising scams, protecting personal information, understanding the implications of AI-generated content and promoting responsible online behaviour. Starting from school-level education about these risks, it is important to create a social discourse about the same. Digital devices such as smartphones and digital platforms such as social media are no longer a luxury. Hence, discussing the risks that they entail should not be selective.
Education alone is insufficient without proper support systems. The authorities must also enhance the accessibility and responsiveness of support services. There are worrying reports of individuals, especially women, refraining from reporting cybercrimes due to unfriendly Police responses. Therefore, law enforcement agencies need training and resources to handle digital crimes sensitively and effectively which will in turn create an environment where victims feel safe to come forward. In these efforts, collaboration between Government bodies, tech companies, educational institutions and the civil society is crucial.