Parl group calls for comprehensive ‘gender-sensitive’ laws to combat cybercrime

Nedry: Taking into account the sharp rise in cybercrimes against women and children over the years, a parliamentary committee has recommended that the government should launch a structured and time-bound review to develop “comprehensive and gender-sensitive cybercrime legislation”.In its report on “Cybercrime and Women’s Online Safety” tabled in Parliament on Monday, the Women’s Empowerment Commission also recommended the introduction of age-appropriate regulations and calibrated usage limits on social media platforms to protect children and teenagers from adverse psychological effects, and the development of safe design standards to ensure responsible digital participation.It highlighted that NCRB data showed that cyber crimes against women increased by nearly 239 per cent between 2017 and 2022, and cases involving children increased several times, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.Such crimes have increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting increased digital dependence. Between 2019 and April 2025, more than 248,000 complaints related to women and children were reported to the National Cyber ​​Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).The committee, chaired by BJP Lok Sabha MP Dr D Purandeswari, said the exponential increase in complaints recorded on the NCRP is indicative of growing awareness and institutional action. However, the report also noted that underreporting occurs due to fear, stigma and limited digital literacy, particularly among young girls, rural women and socio-economically disadvantaged groups.The report is based on inputs provided by the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Cyber ​​Peace Foundation, NGOs, cyber experts from CDAC, and social media intermediaries (Google and Meta).The committee highlighted that there are currently several statutes passed to address the issue of cyber crimes affecting women and children, including the Information Technology Act, 2000; the Bharatiya Janya Sanhita, 2023; the POCSO Act, 2012; and the Indecent Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. “Together, these provisions cover a wide range of criminal conduct. However, their fragmented nature often results in overlapping tasks, vague interpretations, uneven enforcement and procedural delays,” the report said.In this context, it highlights the need for a comprehensive cybercrime law that complements and harmonizes existing regulations, rather than suddenly replacing them.The committee also called on digital platforms, particularly social media, messaging and hosting services, to adhere to higher standards of accountability. Furthermore, it strongly recommended the introduction of mandatory KYC-based verification on all social media, dating and gaming platforms to curb the menace of fake profiles, impersonation and anonymous harassment.“Platforms must conduct regular re-verification and maintain high-risk flags on accounts that have been repeatedly reported for abuse. Strict licensing norms and age verification protocols must be established for dating and gaming apps, and penalties imposed on platforms that fail to protect women and minors from fraudulent or coercive practices,” it recommended.