Morphed obscene videos add to WhatsApp users’ worry in Kashmir

Srinagar: Amid the growing concerns caused by the new privacy policy of WhatsApp, the social media platform is worrying the youth in the Kashmir as morphed videos are surfacing on the application with objectionable content from unknown users.

The aggrieved youth in the Valley claim that they received morphed questionable content on WhatsApp video calls depicting them in a compromising position with an unknown girl.

Talking to KNO, several affected WhatsApp users said that they received obscene videos from unknown numbers who also demanded money from them, and in case of failing, they were threatened that their videos will be made viral on social media.

Amir Ahmad (name changed), from North Kashmir, said that a few days back, one of his native friends called him to ask if he had shared any video or engaged in an obscene act with any girl.

“I said no as I was very much confident since there was nothing as such but I was shocked to know that he has received an obscene video of me from an unknown Facebook messenger user who threatened to make it viral,” he said.

“Everything around me froze for a moment since I couldn’t differentiate between my real face and the morphed obscene video,” he said. “The user then started to intimidate and threaten me. He repeatedly demanded money and warned to make it viral in case I fail to pay.”

Several more affected youth in South Kashmir, requesting anonymity, said that they are afraid that viral videos can land them in trouble.

“We received WhatsApp calls from unknown numbers and the moment we picked up, it got disconnected. Immediately after the dropped call, the user sent a video of me with a girl in a compromising position,” they said.

One of the aggrieved users from the border district of Kupwara said that he approached a police post to file a complaint about the matter where he was told two such complaints have been already received.

“I was directed to visit the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar with my complaint,” he said.

The users said that the unknown calls have left them shocked, causing them mental stress.

“There is always a social threat to such content. It can leave an individual in a worrying situation. We have sisters back home,” they said.

The aggrieved users have demanded Cyber Police Kashmir to investigate the matter at the earliest. (KNO)