Interview – Nadege Carine Gamo Gamo: women, personal data, and cybersecurity in Cameroon 🇨🇲📱

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At the Women’s Forum for the Posts, Telecoms, and ICT sector, organized in Yaoundé by Cameroon’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, ICT specialist Nadege Carine Gamo Gamo delivered a timely talk on women’s digital security.

Speaking from her position at the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency, she warned about the growing dangers of oversharing personal data online — from harassment and identity theft to financial extortion. More importantly, she laid out simple, practical steps women can take to protect their privacy in an increasingly hostile online environment.

What are the main risks women face when it comes to personal data online? ⚠️

« Personal data includes everything tied directly to an individual: photos, videos, phone numbers, addresses, fingerprints, passwords, banking details, and more. All of this is linked to a person’s identity.

Women are particularly exposed because many aren’t trained or aware of the privacy settings available on social platforms. Accounts often remain poorly secured, leaving the door wide open for abuse such as:

• identity theft,
• leaks of private photos,
• fraudulent messages sent in their name,
• posts designed to damage their reputation.

In some cases, attackers use this data to extort money, manipulate relatives, or undermine a woman’s professional and social credibility. »

📌 Summary: Weak account security leaves women vulnerable to identity theft, photo leaks, scams, and reputational harm.

How do these attacks usually play out? 💻

« Once an account is hacked, attackers can send fake messages to the victim’s contacts, request money transfers, or publish compromising content.

Sometimes it escalates into threats or blackmail, especially with intimate images. That leads to immense stress, fear, and in some cases, even depression. »

📌 Summary: Cyberattacks often involve fake messages, blackmail, or leaks of sensitive images — with severe psychological fallout.

What impact do cyberattacks have on women’s lives ?⚡

« The consequences are huge: loss of social credibility, public humiliation, isolation, anxiety, and sometimes even rejection from family or community.

Some women lose their jobs or are excluded from their social circles, simply because their personal data was exposed without consent. »

📌 Summary: Beyond the emotional toll, victims face stigma, job loss, and social exclusion.

What can be done to better protect women online ? 🔐

« It’s essential to raise awareness among women about how to manage personal data and apply good cybersecurity practices, such as:

• adjusting privacy settings properly,
• avoiding the sharing of sensitive images,
• using strong passwords,
• verifying the authenticity of incoming messages.

Cybersecurity education should start in schools so that young girls develop the right habits early. The real solution lies in awareness, training, and embedding security practices from a young age« 

What message would you like to share with women ? 💬

« As women, we must stay vigilant in cyberspace. Technology is a powerful tool, but it also comes with risks. Protecting our personal data has to be a priority.

Whether it’s our photos, banking information, or private conversations, everything should be safeguarded with care. The digital world offers opportunities, but it’s also fertile ground for abuse. We need to inform ourselves, protect ourselves, and never underestimate the consequences. Women must take control of their digital safety and actively defend their privacy. »

💬 What about you?
How do you keep your personal data safe online? Share your strategies in the comments. 😊