Even though the fundamental elements of competitive examinations in India over the last decade have remained similar to those of previous years, the technology associated with them continues to evolve. Imagine a JEE, NEET or IAS aspirant being able to identify and simplify the problems within
"Call me Ringo." That's what the former Beatles drummer says when asked if we should call him Sir. He joins us at the swanky Sunset Marquis hotel in West Hollywood where rock stars have gathered for decades in a luxury oasis behind the Sunset Strip."Call me Ringo
India is set to become a global sporting powerhouse. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya predicts India will rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036. By 2047, the nation is projected to break into the top five. This vision is fueled by government initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India
The Gauhati High Court on Friday (April 24, 2026) rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail plea in connection with a case registered by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, in the Assam Police Crime Branch
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Friday (April 24, 2026) as surging oil prices and unabated foreign fund outflows unnerved investors. Weakness in IT stocks and a negative trend in global markets also weighed on investor sentiment
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 Swara Bhaskar turns ‘Girl Crush Advocate’ in X bio after UNICEF India Names Keerthy Suresh As Celebrity Advocate For Children’s Welfare Trinamool nominates advocate Menaka Guruswamy Bengaluru advocate sexually harassed while walking her dog Jane Goodall, primate expert and wildlife advocate, dies at 91 Every Step Matters Shoes for Every Comfort Every swing, every stat Every Step Matters Shoes for Every Comfort
Kolkata saw inventory levels improve further, with unsold housing stock declining 7% to 19,062 units from 20,595 units a year earlier Kolkata recorded a 5% year-on-year rise in housing sales to 4,043 units in the first quarter of 2026, outperforming the broader Indian housing market where overall
1 hours ago
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor, a result that also confirmed the hosts’ relegation on Wednesday. A fifth-minute strike from Erling Haaland proved decisive as City climbed above Arsenal on goals scored
1 hours ago
Chennai Super Kings continue to be without MS Dhoni who is yet to attain full fitness after enduring a calf strain. Chennai Super Kings remain hopeful that MS Dhoni will feature for the franchise later this IPL season, despite already missing seven matches due to a calf strain
1 hours ago
IIT Madras's SWAYAM plus launches 3 new AI courses for beginners, registration beginsIIT Madras's SWAYAM plus has launched three new AI courses for beginners. The registration process is underway and will close on May 10. Published on: Apr 24
1 hours ago
Veteran actor Annu Kapoor is often known for voicing his opinions candidly, never shying away from sharing his thoughts on films, society, and the industry with his trademark honesty and wit. In 2025, he found himself at the centre of a controversy after commenting on Tamannaah Bhatia’s
1 hours ago
Chhattisgarh: Forest dept rolls out action plan for conservation, livelihoods in BalodabazarChhattisgarh: Forest dept rolls out action plan for conservation, livelihoods in Balodabazar Published on: Apr 24, 2026 2:11 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Raipur
1 hours ago
West Bengal Elections BJP vs TMC: Political campaigns in West Bengal are creatively using fish and meat, staples of Bengali culture, to connect with voters. This strategy highlights the significant economic importance of the state's non-vegetarian food industry
1 hours ago
A father and his toddler daughter have gone viral after sharing videos of their bike rides together, with heartwarming clips of their outings crossing millions of views online. Gareth Williams, 33, from Blaenau Gwent in Wales, began filming short clips of rides with his daughter Indie after
1 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Under ₹1000 but still cute: These 8 summer dresses prove budget can look chicLooking stylish doesn’t have to come with a heavy price tag. These dresses prove that under ₹1000
1 hours ago
Singapore is transforming from East-West gateway to neutral ground for the AI sector, with Chinese startups hoping to operate beyond government reach while U.S. firms seek foreign talent without the headache of stricter visa regulations. The city-state
1 hours ago
Odisha govt asks colleges, varsities to constitute internal committees under POSH ActThe Higher Edu Dept directed universities, colleges, and teacher education institutions to strictly adhere to the provisions of the POSH Act, or face action. Published on: Apr 24
1 hours ago
Theegala, Rai make modest start in Zurich ClassicTheegala, Rai make modest start in Zurich Classic Published on: Apr 24, 2026 11:48 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Avondale , Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai, who are very close friends, made a modest start in the Zurich Classic
1 hours ago
China's DeepSeek releases long-awaited new AI modelDeepSeek-V4, "features an ultra-long context", the company said in a statement on social media platform WeChat, hailing it as “world-leading.” Published on: Apr 24, 2026 1:31 PM IST AFP Share via Copy link Chinese startup DeepSeek released a
1 hours ago
Near the Kremlin several dozen people are queuing outside the presidential administration office. They've come to submit petitions calling on President Vladimir Putin to end a crackdown on the internet. Russian authorities have been tightening control of the country's cyber space
1 hours ago
AirPods Max 2 is Apple doubling down on a sharp formula of subtle refinementFive years after the original, the AirPods Max 2 keeps that divisive yet iconic design , but delivers important audio hardware upgrades that define renewed finesse Published on: Apr 24
1 hours ago
![New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Australian cricketing icons Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee extended birthday wishes to Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/the-man-who-became-cricket.webp?height=520)
New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Australian cricketing icons Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee extended birthday wishes to Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on his birthday. Sachin, perhaps the most technically flawless batter to live, with nearly every cricket record to his name
1 hours ago
Restaurant Week India (RWI) is back this April after a decade out of circulation, but it returns to a dining culture that no longer needs an introduction. Running from April 24 to May 3 across Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru, the 2026 edition brings together over 55 restaurants offering
1 hours ago
A woman who was taking a toilet break while on a road trip in the Australian outback ended up getting stuck waist-deep in a pit latrine after it collapsed. She was "trapped in the sewage pit for approximately three hours, until [she was] rescued by a local tradesman who happened to be passing by
1 hours ago
Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan have officially kicked off the next schedule of their upcoming film with director Anees Bazmee, as the team heads to Kerala for an extensive shoot. The development was confirmed by Akshay himself, who shared a video on social media, giving fans a glimpse of the journey
1 hours ago
The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE), Dehradun, is set to announce the Class 10 and Class 12 results on April 25. The UBSE board exams for 2026 were held across the state from February 21 to March 20, while practical exams were conducted between January 16 and February 15 at schools and
1 hours ago
A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation that captured Nicolas Maduro has been arrested after he allegedly bet on the removal of Venezuela's former leader before the information was publicly available. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Gannon Ken Van Dyke after he
1 hours ago
An Iranian Ship Tried to Slip the Blockade. A U.S. Destroyer Chased It Down.Hundreds of ghost-fleet vessels are playing a game of cat-and-mouse as the U.S. tries to lock down Iran’s oil trade and pressure it to accept Trump’s terms Published on: Apr 24
1 hours ago
Marco Rubio has said that the Iranian footballers will be allowed to take part in this year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 as he distanced the U.S. government from a reported idea suggesting that Italy could replace Iran in the tournament. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office
1 hours ago
Who is Parminder Singh? Akash Ambani welcomes ex-Google MD as CEO of Reliance-Meta AI ventureParminder Singh was appointed as the CEO of REIL, a joint venture between Reliance Intelligence Limited and Facebook Overseas Inc. Published on: Apr 24
1 hours ago
India is projected to have 313 billionaires and more than 25,200 ultra-high net worth individuals by 2031, according to a study by global property management firm Knight Frank. India currently has 207 billionaires and 19,877 ultra-high net worth individuals, the study showed
1 hours ago
A strong El Nino is expected in the second half of 2026. This will bring hotter, drier weather to Asia. Crops and food supplies will be affected. Farmers face fertiliser shortages and high fuel costs. India anticipates below-average monsoon rains
1 hours ago
Nita Ambani at TIME100 Gala ditches gowns, represents India in a saree and stunning pearl-diamond jewels | PICSAt the TIME100 gala, Nita Ambani wore an exquisite traditional saree showcasing Indian craftsmanship, paired with statement jewellery from her collection. Updated on: Apr 24
1 hours ago
