Digital harassment: Activist demands 1,480 euros for Dick-Pics!

Digital harassment: Activist demands 1,480 euros for Dick-Pics!

Favoriten, Österreich - A Viennese activist experiences the unpleasant consequences of unwanted nude pictures: the 33-year-old woman received a shocking penis photo from a follower via Instagram. Then she decided to turn on a detective to identify the sender of this attacking message. The district court of favorites finally sentenced the perpetrator to a fine of over 4,000 euros. This shows the current urgency to pursue the sending of "Dick-Pics" in Austria, since the legal framework for this is still inadequate, as reports.

Fredi Ferková, a 32-year-old party organizer and sex positive activist, goes one step further: she demands a total of 1,480 euros from the man who gave her the unwanted picture. The amount is composed of 1,000 euros in damages for the "personal impairment" and 480 euros for the costs of the dedicated detective. According to her lawyer, Philipp Springer, it is not only a financial claim, but also an important sign: "Unlike in Germany, it is unfortunately still not punishable in Austria to send penis pictures without being asked," he criticizes the existing legal situation. The announced legislative initiative, which should punish the sending of such images, did not find the necessary support in the political discussion, which leads to the frustrating reality that those affected such as Ferková have to enjoy little legal protection, according to Today.at .

Ferková uses this lawsuit to draw attention to the widespread problem of sexual harassment in digital space. She had already received her first undesirable “Dick-Pic” at the age of 12, which increased her determination to fight these attacks. The moving stories of these few women show the urgent need for action and finally call for a rethink regarding legal protection in the online area.