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India's Online Crimes Against Women Surge: Existing Laws Fall Short

Online crimes against women are soaring in India. Outdated laws and lack of support services are failing victims.

In the image there are bras,panties and skirts with a text above it, this is a graphic image.
In the image there are bras,panties and skirts with a text above it, this is a graphic image.

India's Online Crimes Against Women Surge: Existing Laws Fall Short

India is grappling with a surge in online crimes against women, with 14,409 cases registered in 2022 alone. Existing laws struggle to keep pace, highlighting the need for dedicated provisions and improved enforcement mechanisms.

The National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) revealed a staggering 118.4 percent increase in such crimes between 2020 and 2024. However, India's broad legislative approach, relying on laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2024 and IT Act 2008, fails to specifically address activities like revenge porn, deep fakes, and online doxxing. Unlike countries such as the UK, Australia, and Canada, India lacks dedicated cybercrime units and victim support services.

To strengthen its response, India should learn from the US's public-private partnerships, which fund research into deepfake detection tools. Moreover, India must prioritize public awareness about online abuse safety, allocate dedicated budgets, and seek community support. Existing tools like NCRP and the Sahyog Portal have improved data collection, but more targeted legal provisions are needed.

India's struggle to combat online crimes against women underscores the urgent need for standalone legal provisions and enhanced enforcement mechanisms. By learning from global best practices and investing in targeted measures, India can better protect its citizens from this growing threat.

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