Online harassment of women can inhibit their economic and educational opportunities. There are legal provisions and several laws to protect women and enable them to take action against harassment
When an individual faces an untoward incident online, it can be difficult to know where to turn. If you are a victim of online harassment or know someone who is, it is important to take action and report it to the relevant authorities.
Online harassment does not just take a steep tax on women’s freedom of speech, civic life, and democracy, it can and does inhibit their economic and educational opportunities. For women, harassment frequently perpetuates harmful stereotypes, is sexually objectifying and relies on the threat of violence to be effective. There are legal provisions and several laws to protect women and enable them to take action against harassment.
Legal Remedies as per Indian Laws
With the increasing use and dependence on the internet globally, it is very important for women to know the laws that they can rely on to protect themselves.
Below is a brief of Indian Laws and provisions for safeguarding women from perpetrators online:-
Although the information technology (IT) Act 2008 (amended) of India does not directly address stalking or online harassment, perhaps, the issue is dealt with as an ‘intrusion on to the privacy of individual’ in the act.