Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 5: A new report by international human rights groups Equality Now and Breakthrough Trust has revealed alarming levels of gender-based violence in India’s digital spaces, showing how technology is being used to silence women and LGBTQI+ individuals.
The study, titled “Experiencing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in India: Survivor Narratives and Legal Responses,” highlights that India’s justice system remains unequipped to deal with the evolving forms of online abuse.
“Legal and policy reform that is fit for purpose is urgently required to make digital spaces safer. Survivors need stronger laws, swifter justice, and real accountability from tech companies,” said Amanda Manyame of Equality Now.
The report defines technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) as abuse enabled or amplified through digital means, targeting individuals based on gender or sexual identity. It draws on interviews with nine survivors and 11 experts, including lawyers, cybercrime officials, and academics, across Delhi, Patna, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram. Survivors included adolescents, Dalits, journalists, actors, and members of the LGBTQI+ community.
Common violations included non-consensual sharing of intimate images, deepfakes, doxing, stalking, impersonation, and cyberbullying. The study notes that vulnerability increases for those marginalized by caste, class, tribe, disability, or profession.
India’s digital gender divide remains wide — only 33% of women have ever used the Internet compared with 57% of men (NFHS-5, 2019–21). In rural areas, men are nearly twice as likely as women to go online.
Survivors narrated harrowing experiences: a Kerala journalist received thousands of obscene calls after her number was written on public toilets; a woman in Patna faced online harassment after her photos were morphed; and a tribal LGBTQIA+ student in Kerala was targeted following a Pride rally.
“Filing a complaint felt like another violation. I had to relive everything, only to be told it was my fault,” one survivor said.
Legal experts said India’s cyber laws are outdated. The Information Technology Act, 2000 focuses on property and data protection, not personal harm, and lacks gender sensitivity. The striking down of Section 66A in 2015 left a major gap in safeguarding survivors. Current cases rely on provisions from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, covering sexual harassment, stalking, and defamation, along with certain sections of the IT Act.
Under the IT Rules, intermediaries are required to remove unlawful content within 24–36 hours of receiving complaints. However, the report found that survivors and police face major hurdles in getting harmful material taken down. Tech companies often respond inconsistently or refuse cooperation, citing jurisdictional or procedural issues.
“Lawyers and police describe working with platforms like Meta, Instagram, and WhatsApp as opaque and frustrating,” the report stated. “Automated moderation systems fail to identify abuse in regional languages.”
“Every survivor we spoke to shared stories of fear, frustration, and resilience. The systems meant to protect them are instead silencing them,” said Manjusha Madhu of Breakthrough Trust.
The report calls for comprehensive cyber law reforms, faster grievance redressal, and greater accountability for tech platforms, emphasizing the urgent need to make India’s digital space safe for all.