Cyber safety for women: Tackling stalking, deepfakes and online harassment
As we celebrate International Women's Day, it is important to recognise a growing concern in India's digital ecosystem. The internet has opened doors to opportunity, expression and financial independence for women, but it has also exposed them to new and evolving forms of cyber abuse.
India has over 800 million internet users today, yet only about 35 to 40 percent of them are women. Despite being underrepresented online, women face a disproportionately high share of cyberstalking, identity misuse, deepfake manipulation and online harassment. As more women build professional identities, businesses and personal brands online, their digital presence increasingly becomes a target.
Cyberstalking is often the first stage. What begins as repeated follow requests or unwanted messages can escalate into monitoring online activity, impersonation or attempts to extract personal information. Many women ignore or block such behaviour, but without reporting and documentation, offenders often continue unchecked.
A more recent and deeply concerning trend is the rise of deepfakes and AI-generated abuse. With easily available tools, attackers can misuse a publicly available photograph to create morphed images or fabricated videos, often used for blackmail, defamation or intimidation. The emotional, professional and social impact on victims can be severe, even when the content is false.
Online harassment continues to be widespread. This includes abusive comments, body shaming, threats and doxxing. Women who are visible and vocal, such as entrepreneurs, journalists and professionals, are especially vulnerable. In many cases, harmful content reappears even after being reported, creating a cycle of repeated abuse that attempts to silence women and restrict their participation in digital spaces. Women should not be forced to limit their presence or expression online. They must have the freedom to participate fully and safely in digital spaces. The right to a free, uninterrupted and undisturbed digital presence should emerge as a fundamental extension of the rights to dignity, privacy and freedom of expression.
Simple cyber safety practices can significantly reduce risk. Women should have full control over their digital presence, including who can view their profiles, contact them and access personal information. It is important to limit the sharing of personal details such as phone numbers and locations, and to enable two factor authentication on all accounts. Unknown requests or suspicious profiles should never be engaged with. Any form of abuse should be documented through screenshots and reported immediately through the National Cyber Crime Portal or helpline 1930.
To reduce the risk of deepfake misuse, it is advisable to be mindful about sharing high resolution publicly accessible images and to periodically check for misuse through reverse image searches. At the workplace level, organisations must treat digital harassment seriously, with clear reporting and redressal mechanisms.
There is also an urgent need to address AI-driven abuse. Deepfake and synthetic media tools are now easily accessible, but safeguards have not kept pace. Platforms hosting user generated content must deploy automated detection tools for manipulated media and clearly label or remove such content before it spreads widely.
From a policy perspective, India's legal framework is evolving with measures such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and updated IT Rules. However, enforcement remains inconsistent and slow. There must be stricter and faster law enforcement response to cyber abuse, with time-bound investigation and prosecution so that cases are not dragged on for years. Cybercrime cells require more specialised training, faster digital evidence handling and dedicated support systems for victims of gender-based cybercrime.
Women should not have to choose between being visible and being safe. The ability to express, participate and lead in digital spaces is fundamental to equality in today's economy.
This International Women's Day, the call is simple and urgent. Build awareness, strengthen digital security habits and speak up against abuse. Creating a safer internet for women is not just a technological issue, it is a collective responsibility we must all uphold.