Women trolled, threatened, and silenced: Need for bridging the legal gaps

Online gender-based violence in India—ranging from trolling and rape threats to deep fakes and doxing—silences women, particularly those from marginalised communities. Existing laws, including the IT Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, lack comprehensive provisions for emerging harms like AI-generated content and cyber flashing. Legal gaps, victim-blaming, and poor enforcement exacerbate underreporting and impunity. Learning from global models like the UK’s Online Safety Act and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, India must enact a robust, victim-centred framework, mandate platform accountability, and modernise laws to match technological advances. A safe digital space is essential for women’s empowerment, free expression, and participation in public life.

Continue reading: https://www.siasat.com/women-trolled-threatened-and-silenced-need-for-bridging-the-legal-gaps-3248828/