‘Loot lo, loot lo,’ a man yells while recording scenes after a truck toppled in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore. His video is now going viral, sparking discussions online over ‘insensitivity’. But what exactly happened? The truck was loaded with bottles of cold drinks (primarily bottles of Thums
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Big price drop on 4K smart TVs: Up to 60% off on Samsung, Sony, LG and moreSmart TVs on Amazon are seeing noticeable price drops, making it easier to upgrade to sharper visuals
NRI installs Statue of Liberty replica atop Jalandhar home after 26 years in New YorkAn NRI installed a Statue of Liberty replica on his Jalandhar home, drawing visitors and going viral online. Published on: Mar 22, 2026 7:39 AM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link A unique
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “biggest infiltrator” and reiterated her criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government in connection with the special intensive revision of voter rolls, PTI reported
Meet Team USA's ‘giantkillers’ who handed Tom Brady, Joe Burrow brutal losses in Fanatics Flag Football Published on: Mar 22, 2026 4:11 AM IST By Yash Nitish Bajaj Share via Copy link U.S. National Flag team's Isaiah Calhoun reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Wildcats FFC (AP) Key
Why Indian laws fail to protect women online
When even an advocate who defends the rights of others every day ends up “completely helpless”, it lays bare crucial failures in laws and procedures meant to ensure women's safety.
In July, a Chennai-based lawyer approached the Madras High Court after her former partner had secretly filmed their intimate moments during a relationship built on false promises of marriage. Without her knowledge or consent, he uploaded these videos across the internet.
These events formed the basis of the case X vs Union of India.
By the time a friend told her about the videos, the damage was widespread. The videos were on more than 70 platforms: pornographic sites, Twitter or X, Telegram channels, Google Drive links. The videos kept spreading with shifting URLs, multiple accounts and relentless re-uploads.
She took every step required. A first information report was registered on April 1. She made formal representations to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in June, asking for removal under Section 67A of the IT Act. Still, by July, nothing moved. The videos kept circulating. As a lawyer, she found herself publicly and professionally shamed.
Reflecting upon the slow pace of action in this and other such cases, Justice N Anand Venkatesh noted that “the right to privacy and dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution were being violated every second”.
If someone equipped with legal knowledge and access is helpless, what chance does anyone else have?
Research across 10 countries shows that one in five people experience Image-Based Sexual Abuse, with women carrying the burden and suffering the harshest consequences.
In India, public exposure can mean familial disgrace, social ostracism and professional ruin.
On paper, Indian laws promise urgency: the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2025, require platforms to remove flagged content within 24 hours. But complainants wait weeks, sometimes months, for even the first takedown order. In the internet where “what's online once is online forever”, 24 hours is already too late.
Images spread, screenshots multiply, re-uploads appear faster than any notice can reach them. Instead of swift protection, survivors have to deal with police apathy, unanswered ministry emails and endless legal processes. Platforms shrug off responsibility while perpetrators operate with near-total impunity.
Even in this case, despite registering an FIR, the advocate waited three months before the court intervened.
When the law refuses to acknowledge the gendered nature of the harm, it reproduces it, leaving women to absorb the fallout.
The IT Act frames such harms as “privacy violations” and “obscenity”. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which has replaced the Indian Penal Code, scatters relevant offences across unrelated provisions as though the non-consensual sharing of intimate images is a technical problem rather than a targeted act of gendered abuse.
That framing makes a violation of trust, autonomy and dignity into a routine content issue. It also shapes institutional behaviour: police routinely dismiss these cases as “relationship disputes” and platforms treat them as terms-of-service infringements.
Platform accountability is an illusion. The IT Rules have a 24-hour removal requirement, but platforms have to take down only the specific links flagged to them. There is no statutory duty to prevent re-uploads, no requirement to use hash-matching, no obligation to coordinate with other platforms and no mechanism to track circulation across the digital ecosystem.
Survivors end up playing an exhausting game of whack-a-mole while platforms meet minimal compliance thresholds and perpetrators shift to the next space.
Most critically, India offers survivors no civil remedies at all. Criminal law is the only path and it depends on police cooperation, digital evidence that survives long enough to be collected and years of proceedings in an overburdened system.
Even when a conviction is eventually secured under the IT Act or Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, any fine imposed goes to the state, not to the woman who lost work, safety, relationships and mental health. The offender is punished symbolically while the survivor is left to deal with the real consequences.
Examples from Canada, Germany and Australia show that online safety for women demands proactive safeguards and institutions that understand the toll survivors carry long after images spread across the internet.
In 2016, an Ontario court awarded an 18-year-old woman $100,000 after she sued her former romantic partner for breach of privacy for sharing intimate videos of her on a pornography website. In addition to ordering takedowns, the court recognised measurable harm such as therapy costs, reputational damage, career loss and continuing psychological trauma. It noted the “permanent and irreversible” nature of online distribution.
Similarly, Germany's Network Enforcement Act, 2017, imposes fines of up to 50 million euros on platforms that fail to remove illegal content, including non-consensual intimate imagery, within 24 hours of notification. The NetzDG law creates financial incentives for proactive content moderation systems, with mandatory transparency reports detailing complaint volumes and response times.
While criticised for potential over-removal, the model shows that financial consequences can encourage platforms to shift from minimal compliance to systemic investment in safety infrastructure.
In India, where platforms routinely resist compliance citing technical limitations or procedural ambiguities, Germany's deterrent-based framework shows how to bring about enforceable accountability.
In 2015, Australia established the world's first eSafety Commissioner, with dedicated powers to issue removal notices for image-based abuse. The commissioner can order platforms to take down content within 24 hours and levy penalties up to 111,000 Australian dollars for non-compliance.
It is a survivor-centered procedure: victims report to one authority rather than navigating multiple platforms and the commissioner coordinates takedowns across platforms simultaneously, preventing the exhausting pattern of content reappearing on new platforms.
This contrasts with the case of the Indian lawyer who had to separately approach the information and technology ministry, the police and more than 70 platforms while content continued spreading.
Rather than sweeping new laws to protect women online, India needs a legal and practical system that works as promised.
India can learn from other countries to build its own version by creating a unified framework, placing responsibility on platforms rather than victims, and ensuring compensation and timely support.
Digital safety is a human rights concern that cannot be addressed with technical fixes. Shifting the burden of proof from survivors onto platforms and perpetrators can help make online spaces where women are equal participants.
Vidya Kakra is a lawyer working to support women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence at the Migration and Asylum Project.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Ranveer Singh backs AI-generated Chiranjeevi Hanuman even as others reject it Trinamool nominates advocate Menaka Guruswamy Swara Bhaskar turns ‘Girl Crush Advocate’ in X bio after Jane Goodall, primate expert and wildlife advocate, dies at 91 Bengaluru advocate sexually harassed while walking her dog UNICEF India Names Keerthy Suresh As Celebrity Advocate For Children’s Welfare Every Step Matters Shoes for Every Comfort Every swing, every stat Every Step Matters Shoes for Every Comfort
The US has lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil, as it scrambles to contain the impact of its war in Iran on energy markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the issuing of a narrowly tailored, short-term authorisation permitting the sale of Iranian oil currently stranded at sea
1 minutes ago
Delhi engulfed in ‘not very common’ dense fog in March; records lowest temperature since February 26Experts attributed the occurrence of fog to a combination of recent rain, high moisture content in the atmosphere and relatively calm winds overnight. Updated on: Mar 22
1 minutes ago
Bournemouth held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday in their Premier League clash. Bruno Fernandes strike and an own goal accounted for United’s tally, while Ryan Christie and Junior Kroupi found the net for the Cherries in a match that also saw Harry Maguire sent
1 minutes ago
Chandrasekhar, who is fighting against CPI(M) leader and state Education Minister V Sivankutty, and K S Sabarinadhan from the Congress in the April 9 polls, submitted his nomination papers before the returning officer during the day, accompanied by Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma.Chandrasekhar
1 minutes ago
In 2018, a young tigress stopped appearing on camera traps in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. There was no official report of conflict as well as no records of carcass recovery or poaching incidents. This indicated that she had not died within the reserve.In 2018
1 minutes ago
The Union government on Saturday allowed an additional 20% allocation of commercial liquefied petroleum gas to states and Union Territories, taking the overall allocation to 50%. Of the total amount, an allocation of 10% will be given on the condition that states undertake measures to ease the
1 minutes ago
DICGC risk-based premium: How much will banks pay for deposit insurance?RBP framework provides a bank with a discount of up to 33.33% on the deposit insurance premium based on its rating category and an up to 25% vintage incentive. Updated on: Mar 22
1 minutes ago
Maharashtra politics heats up after a state women's commission chief resigns due to her association with a spiritual leader accused of rape. The Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray Sena now targets Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Leaders demand action against political followers of such spiritual
1 minutes ago
TikTok star Taylor Frankie Paul sat uneasily in her chair during a live interview on ABC's Good Morning America this week, caught between trying to promote her turn in the network's new series of The Bachelorette and addressing fresh domestic violence allegations lodged against her by her
1 minutes ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured the minority community of her support during her Eid-ul-Fitr address, criticizing the BJP's alleged deletion of minority names from electoral rolls. She vowed to challenge these actions in the Supreme Court
1 minutes ago
In the age of convenience, using frozen, deep-fried or processed meats that are brimming with preservatives is the norm. It makes life easier on days when work and life collide. However, a new study has found that eating too much ultra-processed food may significantly increase the risk of serious
1 minutes ago
Mohit Suri on eight-hour shift in film industry debate: ‘Emraan Hashmi shot 24 hours with me’Director Mohit Suri feels improved working hours shouldn’t be reserved only for actors, but must also consider the well-being of the entire crew. Mar 22, 2026
1 minutes ago
Cuba’s national power grid suffered a nationwide collapse on Saturday, plunging the island into darkness for the second time in a week as the communist government struggles to maintain electricity supplies for its 10 million residents amid a U.S.-imposed oil blockade and ageing infrastructure
1 minutes ago
The National Farmers' Union has warned that food prices in the UK are likely to go up as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. NFU President Tom Bradshaw told the BBC that the price of cucumbers and tomatoes could rise over the next six weeks
1 minutes ago
Global intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Mossad, were closely watching during Nowruz on Friday to see whether Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, would uphold his father’s tradition of a New Year’s address. However, the holiday went by without Mojtaba’s address
1 minutes ago
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday claimed it had struck an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over central Iran, even as Israel announced fresh overnight strikes on ballistic missile production facilities in Tehran. In a statement carried by Sepah News
1 minutes ago
These have been directed by PNGRB to shorten the timeline between the submission of applications and the commencement of gas supply to consumer households and pursue mass awareness initiatives. Also Read :India set to become rich by 2047? How growth
1 minutes ago
The combined wealth of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma has increased to Rs 35.16 crore in 2026 from 17.27 crore in 2021, showed the affidavit filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader on Friday. Himanta Biswa Sarma had filed the affidavit along with his
1 minutes ago
When Liverpool came to Brighton last May, the away end was in party mode at the full-time whistle despite the defeat as they sang and celebrated with inflatables and balloons. By then, Arne Slot's side had won the Premier League title and a trip to the south coast was another excuse to enjoy
1 minutes ago
The National Highways Authority of India will use advanced AI dashcams on 40,000 km of highways. This initiative aims to improve road maintenance and safety through data-driven operations. High-resolution imagery will help identify over 30 types of defects
1 minutes ago
For most office workers in India, the concept of working out like Bollywood’s “New Age Action Hero" Vidyut Jammwal, who is known for his incredible Kalaripayattu-powered feats, seems absurdly unattainable. The actor is believed to exercise for up to nine hours every day
1 minutes ago
In the high-stakes arena of the 2026 Assam assembly elections, observers say Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has deployed a political strategy that is as audacious as it is effective: dismantling the Congress party by absorbing its most influential DNA. On March 19
1 minutes ago
Indian man escorted off flight after demanding seat change from US-based techieA United States-based software developer has sparked a discussion on in-flight etiquette after refusing to switch seats with an Indian man on a plane Published on: Mar 22
1 minutes ago
India faces an LPG crisis as the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupts shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies 85-90% of the country’s imports. Tanker delays and safety concerns have caused cylinder shortages, rising prices, and rationing, hitting households and eateries hard
1 minutes ago
Comprehensive financial planning: Reflect on FY25 and plan for FY26 and beyondThe annual review of the financial year. Updated on: Mar 22, 2026 4:10 AM IST By Gopal Gidwani Share via Copy link The financial year-end is a good time to reflect on what worked well this year and what did not go as
1 minutes ago
With the inauguration of the Noida International Airport in Jewar drawing closer, a key concern for travellers across Delhi-NCR is accessibility. While the airport promises to ease pressure on Delhi’s existing aviation infrastructure, its location in western Uttar Pradesh means commute time will
1 minutes ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.7 Running watches that actually help you run better in 2026Running watches have changed how people track every mile. Here are seven options that stand out when it comes to performance
1 minutes ago
