Cyber Crime against Women in India: A Study

Abstract

With the advent of the internet, cyber law has become an emerging field. Cyber law encompasses electronic commerce, freedom of expression, intellectual property rights, jurisdiction and choice of law, and privacy rights. There have been various kinds of computer and internet related crimes. Cyber-crime against women in India is relatively a new concept. It has been established that the internet as the most chosen mode of the offenders to harass and victimize women. The behavioral factors that contribute to such victimization may include broken relationships, ex-partner harassments, professional rivalry, male dominance and chauvinism, sudden exposure to digital technologies mischievous intentions to experiment with online adult entertainment in a digital way and even for monetary gains. No doubt India is one of the very few countries who have passed the Information Technology Act, 2000 to tackle with such type of cyber crimes. This Act was created mainly for enhancing e-commerce. It covers commercial or financial crimes i.e. hacking, fraud, and breach of confidentiality etc. But, issues regarding women i.e. cyber stalking, cyber sexual defamation, cyber bullying, email harassment etc. still remain untouched in this Act. The researchers feel that amendments should be incorporated in to the Information Technology Act, 2000 by the Law Commission for more effectively tackling the cyber crimes against the women victims in India.