Lok Sabha Question No. 5715 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Cyber Harrassment of Women
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Kirit Premjibhai Solanki

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5715

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## CYBER HARRASSMENT OF WOMEN

## 5715. DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  increasing  instances  of  cyber harassment and impersonation of women on social media;

(b) if so, the details of the number of cases and actions taken on culprits from 2019 to 2021;

(c) whether the Government has developed a portal/ helpline where women can register their complaints  against  cyber  harassment  and  impersonation  and  if  so,  the  details  of  the  cases reported between 2019 and 2021;

(d) the steps taken/being taken to popularize the said portal; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) and (b): The Government is committed to Open, Safe & Trusted and Accountable internet. As internet expands and delivers many benefits for citizens, the Government is also aware of growing phenomena of users harms caused by misuse of some social media /intermediaries platforms by some users which also includes crimes against women and children caused as a consequence. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes statistical data on crimes in its publication 'Crime in India'. As per the data published by the NCRB, details of cases registered under the head cyber crimes against women  (involving communication devices as medium/target) for the years 2019 and 2020 are 8415 and 10,405 respectively. The latest published report is for the year 2020.

'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  as  per  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation  and  prosecution  of  crimes  through  their  law  enforcement  agencies.  The  law enforcement agencies take legal action as per the provisions of law against persons involved in misuse of social media for impersonation of women and cyber harassment.

(c) to (e): In order to make Internet Safe, Trusted and Accountable, the  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) operates a National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) to  enable  citizens  to  report  complaints  pertaining  to  all  types  of  cyber  crimes  with  special focus on cyber crimes against women and children since  30.08.2019.

Cyber  crime  incidents  reported  on  this  portal  are  routed  automatically  to  the  respective State/UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of law. A Tollfree  Helpline  number  '1930'  has  been  operationalized  to  get  assistance  in  lodging  online cyber  complaints.  As  per  the  data  maintained,  since  its  inception,  9,04,061  cyber  crime incidents  have  been  registered  upto  28.02.2022  on  the  portal.  However,  specific  data regarding cases of 'cyber harassment and impersonation of women on social media' is not maintained separately on the portal.

To spread awareness about the Portal and Toll-free Helpline number, the Government has taken  several  steps  that  inter-alia  includes  dissemination  of  messages  through  SMS,  I4C social media account, i.e., Twitter handle (@Cyberdost), Facebook (CyberDostI4C), Instagram  (cyberdosti4c),  Telegram  (cyberdosti4c),  Radio  campaign,  engaged  MyGov  for publicity through multiple media, organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness Weeks in association with States/UTs, etc.

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