Online Harassment

One of the most important features of the growing internet penetration in India has been its slowly, but surely, increasing adoption among marginalised groups. Along with a greater access to information, as discussed in the previous section, this growing adoption also contributes to better connectivity among and across these groups, which leads to a heightened ability to organise and support each other. For instance, in 2021, many prospective students belonging to marginalised communities raised fees for their educational programmes, through online crowdfunding, which would have been unaffordable otherwise.25

However, on the flip side, the internet, especially, social media, provides scope and space for perpetuation of offline biases. According to a survey conducted by Plan International, 58% of women in the Asia-Pacific region have faced online harassment or abuse on social media platforms.26 The recent cases like that of ‘Bois Locker Room’ clearly depict the increase in such cases.27 28

Online Harassment is a blanket term for all kinds of harassment faced by individuals on the internet. This experience is often witnessed across the lines of one’s own identity, for example women’s misogynistic encounters or casteism faced by Dalit and Adivasi individuals. Online harassment can take various forms such as offensive name-calling, purposeful embarrassment, stalking, physical threats, harassment over a sustained period of time, or sexual harassment.

Shabana is 18 years old, lives in Lucknow and is a first year undergraduate student. She is a kind, helping, socially active and an aware individual.

She uses digital platforms to attend online classes and for connectivity purposes. She prefers sharing her opinions on social media platforms and likes it when her voice is heard.

However, she is not sure about her safety online. Some of her comments have garnered negative attention and people have begun abusing her. One individual even accessed her personal data and images from these platforms and began blackmailing her. She is unsure on how to ensure safety for herself and her family, as the online activities have the potential to have a negative impact on her offline life as well.

Over the past six years, the system’s response to online harassment has continued to move from the emerging stage to an early mainstream owing to strengthening of regulations and growth in private sector solutions to combat the risk.

2016 status: The risk was well understood by all stakeholders. Sections under the IT Act 2008 and 2011 were being used as mandates to solve for the risk of online harassment; Limited private-sector solutions existed in 2016.

2022 status: Private-sector firms have started building solutions that are safer for marginalised and underrepresented groups.

This clause under the IT Act criminalised publishing or transmitting of any material that contained sexually explicit content.31

During the case, the Supreme Court had ordered the creation of an automated content removal process regarding online child pornography.32

Both the IT rules (2021) and the POCSO guidelines suggested reporting requirement for platforms and legal solutions against child sexual abuse material present online.33 34

Meta’s Oversight Board of external experts continue to review its content decisions Meta’s Oversight Board, which was constituted in 2020 to review content decisions made by Facebook and Instagram has since selected 17 cases related to online harassment for hearing.35

Key Trends

Government focus towards online harassment has increased.

Business involvement in creating solutions to curb online harassment has increased.

In 2016, the sections 67B, 66E, 69A of the IT Act were used to counter growing online harassment. Certain provisions in the IT Act 2011 were also being used. By 2021, the amendment of the IT Intermediary Rules, 2021, has also provided potential solutions. The action on the ‘Bulli Bai’ and ‘Sulli Deal’ cases also suggest increased government and law enforcement focus on the issue.

As opposed to 2016, by 2022, there has been a strengthening of community guidelines by platforms, and a nascent but growing proactiveness to take down offensive content by platforms such as Facebook. Additionally, business models of platforms such as Bumble prioritise women’s online safety.36

2: Connectedness | Online Harassment

The risk of online harassment is well understood and aligned on by all stakeholders. Despite this alignment, the solutions ecosystem for solving for this risk has been dispersed, and no single, mainstream solution has yet emerged. Hence, to arrive at an assessment of the effectiveness of existing solutions, and further improving them, our research suggests the following pathways for philanthropic investment:

Aid

Support

The table below presents gap areas and illustrative funding opportunities for philanthropy to further reduce the risk of online harassment :

While most of the risks are understood, creating a shared regulatory vocabulary for problematic content that is consistent and exhaustive so as to cover largescale issues such as online misogyny and harassment will help improve redressal of complaints.

Support evidence building towards strengthening existing regulations that include related aspects such as morphing of images, into the ambit of the law. Dedicated institutional bodies for resolving online harassment concerns are needed to combat the growing number of online harassment cases.

Fund and support proof of concept for technology add-ons in social media apps for building capacity of Indian users to recognise online harassment and protect themselves. These technologies should be adept at identifying local languages and slang to be able to help users in all ways.