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Egyptians confront cyber sexual harassment

Sexual harassment in Egypt has moved from the streets to the Internet, as more women and men are being harassed online.
Volunteers from an anti-harassment group called "Harassing the Harasser" detain a young man, after a girl claimed that he was sexually harassing her, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in central Cairo July 28, 2014.  Police and volunteers of anti-harassment groups have been more active since last month's incident of a woman who was sexually assaulted by a mob during celebrations marking the inauguration of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to local authorities.   REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: CI
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CAIRO — Thanks to the widespread use of mobile devices and social media, sexual harassment is no longer confined to a direct physical encounter between the harasser and the victim. Through a phenomenon called "cyber sexual harassment," the harasser can now reach potential victims in their homes.

Cyber sexual harassment is defined as the use of electronic means of communication to send messages or images, many times of a sexual nature, to threaten or insult the recipient. Sometimes, the harasser will threaten to use and manipulate the recipient's photos and share them online, or even use their photos without their consent.

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