Women in Cyberspace
Written by Ayushi | Edited by Diksha
Cyber-crimes against women are increasing at an alarming rate and are just as grave as those committed offline. Crime against women is on the rise everywhere. In India, society looks down on women and the law does not even recognize cyber-crimes, being a victim of cybercrime is one of the most traumatic experiences for a woman.
On 30th of December, 2020, Abhilasha conducted an online session on the topic “Women in Cyberspace” with Mrs Pooja Malhotra, a cyber safety counsellor by profession, the author of the book “Be safe in Cyberspace” and Technical Committee Member, NCDRC, at National Cyber Security and Safety Standards. She has been actively using the power of her words to encourage young netizens to “be safe in cyberspace”, educating digital citizens and spreading awareness about their rights and responsibilities in this increasingly digital world. She has worked for eight years in this field, taught and counselled around 10,000 children, and worked with over 5,000 educators and parents.
Online harassment is an essential subject to talk about, especially when it comes to women. Being on an online platform does provide you with flexibility and comfort. However, some people choose to hide behind the online walls and take advantage of this. Most of us are not even aware that some rules and regulations govern cyberspace. And this unawareness can prove to be hazardous at times.
The following cybersecurity rules can help us create a safe online experience for ourselves:
1. Pause before you post: Always be thoughtful of the consequences of the wrong post and before putting personal information out there. No matter how quickly you remove it later, it can always spread and prove to be troublesome.
2. Protect yourself by not accepting the request of strangers for the sake of increasing the number of followers on your profile. Never share your location, and always cover your camera when not in use.
3. Follow the IBR Mantra: Ignore, block, and report.
Gender inequality still prevails in the real world, extended to cyberspace. According to research, approximately a hundred and one million men have access to mobile phones compared to women. Panchayats have banned the usage of mobiles by women. The low literacy rate is one strong reason for this situation.
Women are objectified on social media. There’s a rising desire in women to look picture-perfect. This negatively impacts their mental health, separating them from the real world.
Whenever you go through a situation of cyberbullying, the first step to be taken is to report it to the cybercrime cell with proper evidence. The standard for cybercrime sentencing has been rigidified. If the cybercrime committed was intentional, it could lead to a prison sentence of up to 20 years charged under the ITA-2000.
Women must not be blamed for what they go through in cyberspace, as it’s NOT their fault, but the society’s at large and the mindset that persists.
The bottom line is:
One should be careful while handling social media platforms, and society should broaden its perspective regarding women in cyberspace. Everyone should abide by the rules and regulations listed in the act. Women must always take a stand for themselves and take action whenever they feel uncomfortable or face cyberbullying.
People should become more understanding and perceptive in this matter.
