CYBER CRIME IN INDIA:- WOMEN TARGETTED

 

The world of the Internet today has become a parallel form of life and living. Rapid Technological advancements like the internet clearly threaten to leave the law behind. In general, cybercrime is defined as 'Any Unlawful act where computer or communication device or computer network is used to commit the commission of a crime. Cybercrime includes 'Harassment through e-mails, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, cyber grooming, etc . There are several cases of Cybercrime against Women in the states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc.

One-third of all cybercrime cases filed in Maharashtra are by women who are victims of stalking, blackmailing, pornography, fake profiling or morphing, and fraud such as cheating and forgery. Data released by the NCRB shows that in Maharashtra, blackmailing women online has increased over the last few years. According to cyber Psychologists Nirali Bhatia, most criminals are driven by vengeance or sadistic pleasures. Revenge on the minds and the anonymity that the internet provides are the main reasons for cyber offenses against women and children. 

Cyber crime against women primarily includes cyber blackmailing, threatening, cyber pornography, posting, publishing of obscene sexual materials, cyber stalking, bullying, deformation, morphing, and the creation of fake profiles.   The Top five states accounted for 61 percent share of cybercrime against women. Karnataka had the highest share with 2,243 cases in 2021, followed by Maharashtra with 1,697, and Uttarpradesh with 958 cases.

There has been a significant increase in cybercrime against women, especially sextortion, during the Covid-19-induced lockdown with 'caged criminals' targeting them online. We received a total of 412 genuine complaints of cyber abuse from March 25 till April 25. Out of these as many as 396 complaints were serious ones from women ranging from abuse, indecent exposure unsolicited obscene pictures, threats, malicious claiming their account was hacked, ransom demands, and blackmail.

VARSHA TIWARI,

Student