LABUAN BAJO TERKINI -Protecting Privacy In The Digital Era to Effective security strategies. In the increasingly advanced digital era, personal data has become extremely valuable due to the numerous crimes that occur through the internet.

There are many motives used by perpetrators, which can be seen in the widespread sharing of vulgar photos and videos on WhatsApp, online loan scams, and fake news that can divide people.

Therefore, users are expected to be more cautious and intelligent in using the internet in this era of unparalleled digital advancement.

Currently, digital progress is very rapid. This can be seen from the way we communicate, which is slowly changing, where we can interact through the internet, especially on WhatsApp. Unfortunately, on the other hand, this digital advancement in communication has a dark side.

This occurs due to the carelessness of users themselves, where vulgar photos and videos from one user are shared by other users.

According to a univariate analysis, 58 respondents (55.8%) reported negative use of WhatsApp, and 58 respondents (55.8%) reported engaging in risky sexual behavior (Nurwati Rettob, 2021).

Online sexual harassment can significantly affect mental health and become a burden for victims. Moreover, if perpetrators use these photos and videos to extort money from victims.

In addition to WhatsApp, online loan apps (pinjol) have also become a common platform for cybercrime. Perpetrators use victims’ identities to borrow money on these apps. The modus operandi of perpetrators is to trap victims by sending links with sports or pinjol-related backgrounds.

When victims click on these links, their data is stolen and used by perpetrators to borrow money.

Consumers whose data is obtained become targets for marketing products or services. Some internet users even offer services to buy and sell accounts or followers (Wikipedia, 2025). The money borrowed by perpetrators is used for their own pleasure, while the victims pay the bills, resulting in financial and data losses.

Another case in the digital era is the spread of fake news, which is used for propaganda or to divide people. Perpetrators often spread news about someone who is popular, using edited photos or videos created with AI to make it seem like the victim is involved in a scandal when they are not.

The goal of perpetrators is to increase their TV or YouTube ratings (Narasi TV, 2023). The victims are often celebrities or popular social media influencers.

In the digital era, it is essential to protect personal data and privacy. The numerous cases of cybercrime, such as the spread of vulgar photos and videos, online loan scams, and fake news, demonstrate that internet users must be more cautious and intelligent in using technology.

To effectively protect our data and privacy, we must understand the risks before using social media and be careful about sharing information online.

By doing so, we can prevent cybercriminals from stealing or tracking us, and our personal data will remain safe and secure from online threats.

 

Oleh: Fridus Fasi – Mahasiswa Prodi Bahasa Inggris Unika St Paulus Ruteng Manggarai

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