Ensuring Women’s Online Safety
Context:
India is undergoing a transformative digital revolution that has unlocked immense opportunities for empowerment. However, as connectivity expands, it also exposes women and girls to tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Addressing this issue is critical for ensuring safe, inclusive, and empowering digital spaces for all.
India’s Digital Violence – Urban and Rural Dynamics:
While digital access has improved, it has also exposed women to new risks:
- Urban Areas: Women in public-facing roles, such as journalists and politicians, experience rampant online harassment, cyberstalking, and trolling.
- Rural Areas: With 20% more Internet users than urban areas (2021 Nielsen report), rural women face a dual challenge:
- Limited digital literacy to navigate online spaces safely.Societal norms that restrict their ability to report abuse.
About TFGBV- Forms and Its Rise:
India’s Digital Revolution:
India’s digital infrastructure is globally recognised as a success story. The country has:
- 1.18 billion mobile connections
- 700 million Internet users
- 600 million smartphones
Tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is rising and takes several harmful forms:
- Cyberstalking and online trolling
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
- Impersonation through fake profiles
- Voyeurism and grooming
These abuses often force women and girls to retreat from digital spaces, limiting their participation in the digital economy.
Why Online Safety Matters:
Ensuring women’s safety online is:
- A moral obligation to promote gender equality.
- Critical for India’s economic progress, as digital exclusion limits opportunities for women and girls.
Government’s Recent Campaign: ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’:
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development recently launched the ‘Ab Koi Bahana Nahi’ (No More Excuses) campaign.
- Aligned with the global ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’, led by UN Women.
- This campaign highlights the importance of ending all forms of GBV, including TFGBV, and reinforces India’s commitment to gender equality.
How Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Is Protecting Women:
Legal Protection from TFGBV:
India has implemented legal measures to address TFGBV:
- The Information Technology Act, 2000
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2024
These laws, coupled with reporting mechanisms, create a strong foundation for combating digital violence.
International Negotiation & Engagement on TFGBV:
- At the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN member states, including India, agreed to promote an open, secure, and accessible ICT environment for women.
- The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the UN Summit of the Future, strengthens global legal frameworks to eliminate all forms of tech-driven violence.
- The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Allows anonymous reporting of online abuse.
- Information Security Education and Awareness Programme: Promotes digital safety.
- Digital Shakti: A programme by the National Commission for Women that equips women with tools to navigate digital spaces securely.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana / PMJDY: Government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana have also been instrumental in increasing financial inclusion.
- Since 2015, account coverage has grown four-fold, with women holding 55.6% of these accounts. Digital Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-mobile linkages have enabled cashless transactions and direct benefit transfers, particularly benefiting rural India.
Challenges in Preventing TFGBV:
- Lack of awareness: Many women are unaware of their rights and reporting mechanisms.
- Digital literacy: Limited skills, particularly in rural areas, hinder women’s safe navigation of online spaces.
- Societal norms: Gender biases discourage women from reporting abuse.
- Platform accountability: Social media platforms need stricter measures to prevent and remove abusive content.
Way Forward in Tackling TFGBV:
- Stricter enforcement of laws: Swift justice for survivors and accountability for perpetrators.
- Social Media Accountability: Platforms must enhance safety features and implement user-friendly reporting mechanisms.
- Digital Literacy Programmes: Expanding initiatives in rural areas, integrating safe online practices in school curriculums, and conducting workshops for all age groups.
- Challenging Societal Norms: Nationwide campaigns that engage men and boys as allies to foster respectful digital environments.
- Tech Industry Collaboration: Leveraging AI to detect and remove abusive content while retaining human oversight.
- Survivor Support Systems: Expanding helplines like TechSakhi, offering counselling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services.
