Cybercrimes against Women in India: How Can the Law and the Technology Help the Victims?

Abstract

Women, the half population of the world, are sometimes referred to as second-class citizens. This unpleasantly differential treatment is not only in higher social and political aspirations of womankind but sadly also in the very basic right of every human being, i.e., living with dignity. This unfairness is noticeable in most parts of the world, especially where “might is right” is practised. Women could not have anticipated the same status to be accorded in the cyber world, which apparently does not work on muscle power. However, on observing the cyber world in the 21st century, it is evident that the struggles, which used to haunt women in the real world, continue to distress them in the virtual world as well. However, unlike in the real world, in the cyber world, women netizens face threats from distant perpetrators as well. Stalking, harassments, bullying, blackmailing, defamation, pornography, obscenity, morphing, e-mail spoofing, revenge porn, slut shaming, and sexting are some of the known crimes committed against women in the online environment. The Indian Parliament passed the Information Technology Act in 2000 to combat cybercrimes. Though the Act was initially aimed at providing a law-enabled environment for e-commerce, at a later point in the year 2008, it was amended to cover various cybercrimes as well. India's National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) has identified that Cybercrimes are a new distinct category of crimes quickly swelling due to widespread use of Internet and information technology-enabled services. Dealing with such incidents can leave invisible scars on the mind of the victims. The increasing rate of offenses committed over the Internet and the unpreparedness of the legal system to take on the offenders and support victims is palpable. In general speaking, cybercrimes are criminal wrongs committed with the help of computers. Irrespective of the fact that computer device is the target of the crime or a means of crime, it will be identified as cybercrime. Cybercrimes can be generally categorized as crimes against i) property, ii) person, and iii) State. This paper focuses on crimes against ii) persons and particularly against women in India. This chapter analyses the role of the Indian legislative system and the help that technology can provide in dealing with the issue of cybercrimes against women and in providing an essential support system to the victims of these crimes.