At the beginning of this month, the country was shaken by a serious case of digital violence in which a minor became a victim of online blackmail. A girl from the village of Slupčane, in the Kumanovo region, was sexually abused and blackmailed for months by several men. The case sparked widespread public reaction and was also reported by regional media outlets. Following public pressure, the police arrested two individuals, while the investigative procedure to fully clarify the case is still ongoing.
However, this is not an isolated case. Girls and women, including minors, are exposed every day to various forms of digital violence.
Digital violence includes online harassment, stalking, gender-based disinformation, deepfakes (audiovisual content created using artificial intelligence, aimed at generating highly realistic fake images and videos by using only a photograph or video of the victim’s face), as well as the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
Despite this, victims often choose to remain silent and do not turn to law enforcement authorities to seek justice.
According to data from the Cybercrime Sector at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, from the beginning of 2024 to date, only three reports of online blackmail have been registered. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has called on victims of online violence — including blackmail, threats, and the misuse of photographs or personal data — to keep in mind that they are not alone and that institutional and civil protection mechanisms do exist.
“First and foremost, it is extremely important that violence is reported as soon as possible. Reporting can be done at the nearest police station or directly to the Cybercrime Sector at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A prompt response significantly increases the chances of identifying perpetrators and preventing further abuse, especially when the content is still active online. Victims should not delete messages, photographs, or profiles through which the violence is being perpetrated, but should preserve as much evidence as possible. This includes screenshots of messages, threats, comments, and profiles, links to posts, dates and times of communication, as well as any available information about the profiles from which the threats originate. Digital evidence is crucial for the successful conduct of an investigation,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Mollëkuqja.
The Ministry also advises that, in cases of online blackmail or threats, victims should not respond to messages from perpetrators and should not comply with their demands, as this usually leads to further blackmail and continued abuse. Instead, the profiles should be reported and blocked directly on the digital platforms themselves, which have mechanisms in place for removing illegal or harmful content.
“Psychological and emotional support is also extremely important. Online violence can have serious consequences for mental health, including feelings of fear, shame, anxiety, or isolation. Victims are encouraged to seek support from trusted individuals, as well as from professional services, non-governmental organizations, or counseling centers that work with victims of gender-based and digital violence. In situations where there is a risk to personal safety, threats of physical violence, or persistent harassment, it is essential to urgently seek assistance from the competent institutions. Every case must be treated seriously, regardless of whether the violence occurs online or offline,” the institution emphasized.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also recommends that victims strengthen their digital security by changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, reviewing privacy settings on their profiles, and carefully managing the personal information they share online.
Mollëkuqja also contacted the Public Prosecutor’s Office to obtain data on the number of cases related to digital violence. The Prosecutor’s Office responded that it does not keep separate records based on the method or means by which a criminal offense was committed.
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office does not maintain separate records of cases according to the manner or means through which the criminal offense — blackmail or other criminal acts — was committed, and therefore we are unable to provide statistics on cases containing the characteristics that are the subject of your inquiry. The Prosecutor’s Office applies the provisions of the Criminal Code as adopted by Parliament,” the response stated.
One of the most well-known cases of digital violence in the country was the group “Public Room,” created in late 2019, in which photographs and personal data of girls and women were shared. The two creators of the group were sentenced to four years in prison each for the criminal offense of producing and distributing child pornography.
Following this case, the Assembly of North Macedonia adopted amendments to the Criminal Code, defining harassment as a criminal offense. According to these amendments, harassment includes continuous unauthorized monitoring, stalking, intrusion into another person’s private life, establishing unwanted contact, as well as the misuse of personal data through communication technologies.
