The Online Publishers Association of Ghana (OPAG) has warned its members and the general public against the publication and circulation of what has become known on social media as the “Russian sex videos,” describing the act as a criminal offence under Ghana’s cyber laws.

In a press release dated February 15, OPAG reminded publishers that Ghana’s Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038) criminalises the non-consensual recording and distribution of intimate images, noting that such actions constitute a clear violation of the dignity and privacy of victims.

The caution follows the circulation of a viral video allegedly showing a Russian national luring some Ghanaian women into a hotel room and secretly recording sexual encounters with them — a development that has sparked widespread public debate about cybercrime, online safety and victim protection.

The statement signed by OPAG President, Michael Petit Mawugbe, further drew attention to the continued enforcement of the Cyber Security Authority Act, stressing that all online publishers must strictly adhere to its provisions to avoid legal consequences.

“As online publishers, we must always bear in mind that ethics cannot be sacrificed for speed. Ethics remains the overarching rudiment of our profession,” the association stated.

The group also referenced the long-held journalistic principle attributed to Joseph Pulitzer that ethics is as sacrosanct as the news itself, cautioning that publishing such images or videos can inflict severe psychological trauma on victims and their families.

OPAG therefore urged its members to immediately cease any publication or sharing of the videos as a measure to protect the dignity of the affected women.

The association reaffirmed its support for the Cyber Security Authority and pledged to continue raising awareness to promote a safer online environment free from misinformation, disinformation and cybercrime.

While commending the Government of Ghana for efforts to extradite the Russian national to face Ghanaian law, OPAG expressed its readiness to collaborate with relevant state agencies in combating cyberbullying, sextortion, misinformation and disinformation.