Hindu Editorial Analysis : 20-July-2023
Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) has become a distressing issue, disproportionately affecting young women across India. TFSV encompasses various forms of online abuse, such as morphed images, sexualized blackmailing, digital flashing, rape threats, and explicit comments and messages. Popular social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp are among the key contributors to this problem. Recent research has shed light on the significant impact of TFSV on college students, with alarming figures revealing that 60% of women experience some form of TFSV compared to only 8% of men.
The Impact and Consequences of TFSV:
TFSV leaves survivors grappling with severe emotional and psychological consequences, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts. Additionally, online abuse can lead to tangible ramifications, such as damage to academic or career prospects, social isolation, and even violence and estrangement from one’s family. Meanwhile, perpetrators often hide behind anonymity, complicating the process of reporting and seeking justice.
Challenges in Addressing TFSV:
- Ambiguous Legal Framework:
While India’s IT Act of 2000 criminalizes some forms of TFSV, it suffers from ambiguities that can discourage survivors from reporting their experiences. Despite some safety improvements following legal pressure, major technology companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) have not adequately optimized their platforms to address the unique challenges faced by Indian users. For instance, safety moderation algorithms primarily trained in American English may struggle to detect abusive content in Indian languages.
- Inadequate Artificial Intelligence:
Poorly designed artificial intelligence systems can perpetuate discrimination by amplifying and repeating harmful content.
- Non-Implementation of Guidelines:
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) play a crucial role in addressing online harassment of students. Comprehensive guidelines for prevention and redressal exist, but many IHEs struggle to form, train, and manage Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs). Even when an ICC finds a student guilty of sexual harassment, higher authorities may not always hold them accountable.
- Low Awareness and Reporting:
Students often lack awareness about ICCs and how to report online sexual harassment incidents to their colleges. Consequently, reporting rates remain abysmally low, hampering the implementation of effective solutions.
Suggested Solutions:
- Strengthening Government Regulations:
With the upcoming Digital India Act, the government has an opportunity to strengthen regulations for technology platforms and hold social media companies accountable. This can significantly aid in curbing TFSV and address existing social inequalities.
- Focus on Survivor’s Needs:
Recognizing that factors like caste, religion, sexual orientation, class, and region can heighten vulnerability online, further research must investigate how TFSV affects marginalized identities. This knowledge is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
- Addressing Student Needs:
Educational institutions should provide anonymous helplines and reporting options, mental health services from trained counselors, and conduct regular workshops and safety training to empower students to handle online abuse effectively.
- Awareness Generation:
Openly discussing TFSV without blaming survivors fosters a supportive environment and encourages positive change. Such discussions are essential in the broader movement to combat all forms of sexual violence in India.
Government Initiatives:
The Indian government has already taken some steps to address TFSV through specific provisions in the IT Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021. Additionally, the “Digital Literacy and Online Safety Programme” aims to train thousands of women in universities across the country to ensure safe internet usage and raise awareness about cybercrimes.
Why In News
Recent research on technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) indicates that young women are disproportionately affected by online abuse, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions and digital safety measures. Additionally, these findings underscore the importance of raising awareness about the specific challenges faced by young women in the digital age to foster a safer and more inclusive online environment for all.
MCQs about Combating Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence in India
-
What is the primary reason behind the disproportionate impact of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) on young women in India?
A. Lack of awareness about reporting options
B. Poorly designed artificial intelligence systems
C. Ambiguous legal framework
D. Social media platform vulnerabilities
-
How can educational institutions help address technology-facilitated sexual violence among students?
A. Providing anonymous helplines and mental health services
B. Implementing stricter social media usage policies
C. Encouraging victims to confront perpetrators online
D. Disabling social media platforms on campus networks
-
Which factor contributes to the perpetuation of online abuse and discrimination in the context of TFSV?
A. Lack of awareness about reporting incidents
B. Non-implementation of guidelines by institutions
C. Poorly optimized safety features on social media platforms
D. Insufficient governmental regulations
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
