LGBTIQ and Women Protection tips on Social Media and Dating apps

By the end of April till the writing of this content in May, we have had many reports and heard about more of defamation and blackmailing cases against LGBTIQ individuals in different regions, not just Egypt or Sudan

It started with Morocco when a social influencer, and Moroccan expat “Sophia Tolouni”, whose identity was conflicted between Gay and Transwoman - made a live video, describing how to create fake accounts on Grindr dating apps to hunt down relatives and neighbours who are on the LGBTIQ Dating app. The live streaming which was attended by thousands of people, lead to a crackdown on LGBTIQ individuals who are being forced for a lockdown due to the COVID19 conditions. Local LGBTIQ NGOs and activists reported cases of domestic violence, and the challenges to provide support under the lockdown.

Shortly after this crackdown, LGBTIQ+ individuals from Sudan and Saudi Arabia reported similar outing attacks. However, the technique was mainly through creating fake instagram accounts, gathering thousands of followers, then using intimate images and screenshots from LGBTIQ++ Dating apps and whatsapp chatting with Women, to blackmail, defame, and incite violence against them.

In most of the above cases, the violators made use of the availability of some data (such as: images, details of personal where about, etc.) for public, without any privacy or safety settings from the accounts’ owners.

Therefore, as a part of Mesahat’s campaign in COVID-19, this quick guide highlights for all countries, the bare minimum protection measures on social media and dating apps, to maintain one’s safety.