Since the proliferation of Information Technology and such other related services there is a rise in instances of cyber crimes all over the country just like elsewhere in the world. As per the data maintained by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 749, 792 and 930 cases of cyber crime against women were registered during the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively under sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000.

 

Government has taken the following steps to prevent online harassment/abuse of women:

(i) The Information Technology Act, 2000 has provisions to deal with cyber crime against women and children. Sections 66E, 67, and 67A of the Act provides for the punishment and fine for voyeurism, publishing or transmitting of obscene/sexually-explicit material in electronic form. Further, sections 354A and 354D of Indian Penal Code provides punishment for cyber bullying and cyber stalking.

(ii) Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 provides for certain due diligence to be followed by intermediaries failing which they would be liable. The Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011 notified under section 79 of the Act, inter alia, Clearly states that the intermediaries shall inform the users of computer resource not to host, upload, display, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information that is grossly defamatory, paedophilic, harmful, obscene, pornographic, harms minor in any way, violates such other law for the time being in force; etc.

(iii) Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is implementing a comprehensive central sector scheme,  namely “Centre for Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC)” to handle all issues related to check all cyber-crime against women and children including child pornography.

(iv) MHA has issued an Advisory on 4.1.2012 on Preventing & combating Cyber Crime against Women and Children, wherein it was advised to States/Union Territories to specifically combat the crimes in forms of cyber stalking, cyber bullying, child pornography and exposure to sexually explicit material etc.

(v) As per the MHA advisory, States have setup cyber crime cells to investigate cyber crimes and initiated action to strengthen the investigation resources in cyber crime cells.

(vi) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has issued an Advisory under Information Technology Act, 2000 for Online Matrimonial Websites service providers for the advantage/benefit of registered users who have created the profile or whose profile is being uploaded for matrimonial alliance on such sites.

(vii) Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a portal www.cybercrime.gov.in for public to report complaints of child pornography and sexually abusive explicit content.

“Police” is a State subject. Data related to establishment of cyber-crime cell catering to women in every State is not maintained centrally.