Women had been victims of many types of harassment since the traditional era. Violence against women is a violation of human rights. Domestic violence. A universal issue with a severe impact on survivors. Domestic violence, Sati Paratha acid attack, rape, eve-teasing, dowry death, sexual harassment, molestation, kidnapping, female infanticide. As the COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened the social and economic stress. This form of violence results in widespread Gender-based discrimination. based violence is increasing aggressively. The increasing rate of cyber-crime against women has been increasing day by day.
This has led to the development of insecurity within women. Its effects are worse on them. And on the society as a whole when we look into the broader picture. ACC. To famous Journalist Swapna Majumdar, Violence against women is nonspecific. The fact is that violence against women has become an acceptable norm of life because women accept violence as a part of a normal life until it becomes intolerable, said Majumdar 2003.
We celebrate women’s day on the 8th of March every year showing respect and love appreciation towards women. In India, women are worshipped as (goddess) Devi. Women’s are worshipped at religious places at festivals. But in reality, they are exploited in various ways. And have always been victims of physical, psychological and sexual exploitations. The more common and frequently reported cyber- pestering against women in India is cyberstalking, cyber morphing, sending obscene, defamatory, annoying messages, emailing blackmailing. therefore cyber-crime is increasing day by day.
Forms of cyber offences against women.
In basic terms, cyber-crime against women is an illegal activity that uses computers. The growing number of internet users every day get linked and with the access to the internet becoming easier and simpler day by day coupled with the malicious intentions of some of the people who use this elevation as a tool to target the vulnerable, has led to the tremendous increase in cyber-crime against women. There are various types of cyber-crime committed against women at large of which have sensitive effects on the image and security of women are as follows.
Cyber Stalking
Cyber Stalking: It is one of the most talked-about and committed in the modern world. Cyberstalking is on the rise and women and children are the most likely targets. Cyberstalking is the way to use the internet to stalk someone for online harassment and online abuse. Cyberstalking is an online threat and there is no direct contact between them. But nowadays cyberstalking crime is more than offline stalking. Because finding the perpetrator is not easier. Mostly the teenagers are victimized. The anonymity of online interaction reduces the chances of identification and makes cyberstalking more common than physical stalking.
Online Trolling / Bullying/Threat/ Blackmailing/ Meme Making
Online harassment of women in India has become a threat, with the growth of toxicity on Twitter. The increase in the number of trolls on the internet. Mr Jaishankar a teacher of criminology who has been Studying bullying, stalking and defamation of women online, says India’s patriarchal mindset has pervaded the internet space. Lawyer Deberti Halder, says that Indian online users are largely male introverts who have found a web space where they can express themselves freely and anonymously. Men do not like women to talk back. Online violence often leads to women being shouted down or self-censoring their opinion because of fear of Blacklash.
The pandemic has raised new and significant concerns around online violence and sexual harassment against women as the dynamics of the workplace are changing with an increase in work from home and online education. As the world moves online post-COVID-19, there is a need to engage with the feminist perspective. Unfortunately, online spaces are increasingly becoming repulsive towards women, with growing toxicity on social media platforms, the online harassment and trolling of women in India has become a threat, today online trolling and abuse against women has become widespread, the slightest bit we can do is strive to contribute some kindness where we can.
Cyber Defamation
The remarkable growth of the internet has provided people with a platform to express the opinion, thoughts and feelings through various forms of publications. Cyber defamation is a new concept but the traditional definition of defamation is an injury caused to the reputation of a person in the eyes of a third person. It refers to the publishing of defamatory material against any person with the help of the internet. This has led to numerous cases against cyber defamation.
It is mostly committed by hacking someone’s Id on Facebook, Google or any other social networking or mail website. It is also done by creating a fake account of a person containing all personal information that resembles to be genuine. After researching this topic, it can be said that the present scenario of India regarding laws do not have an adequate approach towards cases of cyber defamation.
Photo Morphing
Morphing is an activity to edit original pictures to misuse, photo morphing is a special effect that allows a person to morph or change one image or shape into another without difficulty. it is easier for a hacker to use your images, morph them and then misuse them. You can’t stop anyone from morphing. If your images are public, people can easily access them and make use of them to morph, every popular male and female celebrity are being photoshopped and being used by porn sites to satisfy their sexual fantasies. You never know when someone takes your photograph and use them.
E-Mail Spoofing
It refers to an e-mail that emerges from one source but has been sent from another source. Emails using this technique often includes messages signature, lines, and logos related to the spoofed entity. Email spoofing is a popular tactic used in phishing and spam campaigns because people are more likely to open an email when they think it has been sent by legitimate or familiar sources.
Indian Constitution And Cyber Crime
The right to privacy is an important natural need of every human being. The right to privacy prohibits interference in other’s private life. The apex court of India has clearly stated in its judicial judgements that the right to privacy is part of the fundamental right guaranteed under article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Hacking into someone’s privacy or stealing someone’s intellectual work or data complete violation of the right to his privacy.
Judicial Approach
Ritu Kohli Case:
Ritu Kohli’s was the first case of cyberstalking in India. The case in which issues raised to as what is cyberstalking? why don’t we have laws regarding that? In a recent case, the Delhi police arrested Manish Kathuria the culprit of the case. Mrs Kohli further complained that the person was chatting using her name giving her address and was speaking foul language. Consequently, Mrs Kohli received 40 calls during add hours.
The said call created devastation in her personal life. The IP address was traced, police investigated the entire matter and the offender got arrested. A case was registered under section 509 of IPC. This was the first case of cyberstalking reported. Cyber staling is not covered in cyber laws in India. It is covered only under the ambit of section72 of the IT act. Punishment can also be given in section 441 of the IPC act again for outraging the modesty of the women.
Ngo’s Eradicating The Cyber Issues
IT is very depressing that cybercrime has become a common phenomenon in the present day. There lies an important role of the family, parents, community, public, NGO’S, clubs. Organization, government. The NGO’S plays a very crucial role in escalating awareness related to cyber crime. They can inseminate the ways to deal with this social phenomenon to the community.
It is high time for people to rethink social matters. We should make more efforts to make people aware of cybercrime by organizing seminars, debates on illegal activities committed through the internet. So that we become aware and use the online networks more effectively in all aspects.
Role Of Ngo’s In Cyber Crime Awareness.
Every minute, on average nearly 80 people fall prey to some of the other forms of cybercrime and the awareness initiatives in place to prevent them are not enough.
With a view to averting such incidents. there are a team of young and dynamics ninjas, led by Amitabh Kumar, who formed an NGO called social media matters in Delhi founded in 2018.
This organization not only conducts online and offline workshops to spread awareness but also builds up capacities for organizations and govt organizations to be aware of cybercrime happening.
There are various NGOs working for awareness on cyber security, across the globe India is tops in the cases of spam attacks and overall cyber threats. In such cases, NGO’S like the cyber society of India has played a greater role to create awareness among the people.
Cyber Crimes Some Suggestions And Tips To Tackle.
Aside from, depending upon laws against cyber-crimes. Women have to be self-aware about cybercrimes happening. Moreover, cyber laws are not universal, as they vary from country to country, today every person wants to browse privately and safely especially for women. Here are some steps and suggestions on how women can save themselves from being victimized in cyberspace.
We all love to have simpler passwords that are easy to remember, if one wants to lower the risk of internet crime, changing passwords is a great way to make personnel data and social networks safe, avoid words that are in the dictionary and must use different passwords for different websites and accounts. Changing passwords is very helpful to keep privacy safe.
It is a need to collaborate both the police force and cyber force together for better investigation.
School curriculum must cover all aspects of cyber-crimes, So the education system must enforce contemporary issues pertaining to cyber-crime.
Legal Recourse- This pillar will work as a bridge and put a connection between women and law enforcement, there should be digital e portals or e-courts where women can report their issues online and step towards remedy made at ease.
To avoid Cyber-Stalking it is advisable not to disclose any personal information online.
The firewall serves as a great defence when it comes to checking such trespass. Ensure the safe use of security checks, always enable the firewall that comes with your router.
Exercise caution and presence of mind in dealing with such threats. Do not fall prey to fancies.
Be well informed about the advancement of technology and the internet to stay unharmed.
Conclusion
India’s present scenario states many instances of female abuses and exploitation in the technology area. There was a case of Union Minister HRD Smriti Irani who spotted the camera in changing room in fab India, in Panjim. This very issue turns on many questions with regard to the safety security and dignity of Indian women. One of the harsh Questions. in this regard is, ‘So where can a Woman be safe’? It is very scathing cyber-crimes includes abuse of fundamental rights and gender harassment.
India is considered as one of the very few countries to enact the IT Act 2000 to combat cyber-crimes. This act covers the commercial and economic crimes only which can be cleared by the preamble of the IT Act 2000, There is a lack of special provisions for the security of women, However, there are few provisions to cover some of the crimes against women in IT Act. But still, the IT Act depends on IPC to deal with the crimes happening in the virtual society.
