Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a serious violation of a person’s dignity and safety. It includes unwelcome actions, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature intended to demean, intimidate, or restrict the freedom of the affected individual. On the internet, sexual harassment often occurs in social networks or through direct messages.

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment involves unwanted and intrusive expressions or actions of a sexual nature. It is punishable regardless of whether the behavior is verbal, written, or visual.

Examples:

Inappropriate messages: Direct messages with sexualized comments or requests.
Unsolicited images or videos: Sending “dick pics” or other explicit content without consent (“cyberflashing”).
Public comments: Sexual remarks or insults under posts or photos.

What can you do about sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is a criminal offense and should not be tolerated. Here’s how you can respond:

Secure evidence: Save screenshots of messages, comments, or other evidence.
Report: Use the platform’s reporting feature to flag the incident. Most platforms are obligated to review and remove such content.
Protect your privacy: Block the offender and review your privacy settings.
Submit a case: If the platform does not respond appropriately, you can submit your case to us.

Is sexual harassment punishable by law?

Yes, sexual harassment is punishable under § 184i of the German Criminal Code (StGB). Depending on the severity of the act, fines or imprisonment may be imposed. Sending images without consent may also constitute a criminal offense under § 201a StGB. Please note that we can only review public posts. For private messages, law enforcement authorities and prosecutors are responsible.

How does User Rights help?

We evaluate whether the platform fulfilled its moderation obligations and whether actions such as removing harassing content or suspending the offender’s account were justified. While our decisions are not binding, they provide a comprehensive assessment of your rights and further options.

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