Chilean President Offers Legislation Against the Cyber Exploitation of Women

Chilean President Piñera meets with UK Prime Minister Theresa May at the G20 conference in Argentina in 2018. (Flickr)

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera proposed anti-cyber exploitation legislation on March 8. The legislation is aimed at protecting women from blackmail or manipulation through the dissemination of their private information or pictures online. According to Sputnik News, this policy enactment follows the controversial case of Nido.org, an internet forum used to exploit and share private information about women and girls.

Piñera’s project, the Cyber Harassment Law, seeks to “punish all forms of harassment through electronic means,” according to the Santiago Times. Piñera specifically referenced the Nido.org case in his remarks, saying it was “discovered that the practice of divulging intimate photos of women was unpunished” and that he is “committed to generating a zero-tolerance behavior against all types of harassment or violence.”

Chile has not always promoted women’s rights. According to Agencia EFE, in the past year, thousands of people attended peaceful protests. There were 11 deaths attributed to gender-related violence this year, and 42 deaths in 2018, according to Chile Today.

Piñera detailed the pro-women agenda he has in store for the rest of his term, announcing that he will submit a bill that reforms the health forecasting system to make it more attuned to the needs of women. Piñera also proposed the creation of a monitoring unit to secure the safety of domestic violence victims from their aggressors and a gender equality report that comments on the working conditions of women.

Piñera’s proposed policies are essential steps in advancing women’s rights in Chile and the whole region.