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NEW DELHI: National Commission for Women has recommended a comprehensive review of cyber laws relating to women to secure their digital rights, extend privacy protections and hold online platforms accountable.For instance, the NCW report calls for inclusion of cyberbullying, trolling, deepfakes, and privacy violations in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and protects the complainant’s identity in cyber offences. For protecting children it is recommended that digital manipulation and online grooming should be recognised as offences and penalties must be increased under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.These are part of the over 200 actionable recommendations in the NCW report aimed at addressing the legal and institutional gaps in India’s response to cyber offences. “Through this report, NCW envisions a cyber ecosystem where laws do not merely punish offenders, but protect dignity; where awareness replaces fear; and where every woman can step into the digital world without hesitation,” NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said. The recommendations compiled following a year-long exercise of consultations with various stakeholders have been submitted to the ministries of law and justice, electronics and information technology, women and child development, and home affairs.For instance in the Information Technology Act 2002, it is recommended to make room for tougher penalties for offences against women and children, penal action for threats to share private or obscene content and a mandatory victim compensation fund.In case of IT Rules 2021, recommendations range from mandatory account verification and inclusion of AI-manipulated imagery and new provisions for gender-based harassment to cross-border content regulation.With regards to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 it is recommended that “sensitive personal data” and “gender-specific damage” should be defined and there should be stricter consent norms and mandatory removal of non-consensual content within 12 hours. The report also calls for paving the way for tiered penalties for gendered data misuse.To secure women at the workplace under the POSH Act, 2013, it recommended extending protection to digital harassment and remote workplaces. It is also recommended to cover online and OTT content under the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986.
