Gender-based cybercrime is likely to rise in India

Significance

The experience of surfing the net is vastly different for women, who have been disproportionately at the receiving end of cybercrimes that undermine their safety online. As elsewhere, the forms of online offence included bullying, stalking, impersonation and non-consensual pornography.

Impacts

Lack of online safety will limit the female customer base of digital platforms.

Entrenched weaknesses of the judicial systems impede reporting and conviction of cybercrime.

Civil society demands for a personal data protection law will rise.