DigitalHarassment – Kerala Plans Stronger Measures to Tackle Online Abuse Against Women
DigitalHarassment – Kerala Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna has announced that the State government is preparing a comprehensive policy aimed at addressing the growing problem of digital harassment targeting women. While speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, the minister also shared a personal experience that highlighted the seriousness of the issue, saying she was secretly filmed in an inappropriate manner during a public event in Kollam earlier this month.
Minister Shares Personal Experience
Recalling the incident, Bindu Krishna said she was attending the Higher Secondary admission festival on July 6 and visited several schools in her constituency. During one of those visits, she remained unaware that an individual in the crowd was capturing photographs. According to the minister, another person nearby noticed that the camera was not focused on her face but instead on specific parts of her body, prompting them to intervene and ask the individual to stop.
Although she believed the matter had ended there, the situation later took a disturbing turn. The minister said the person allegedly uploaded the inappropriate images online, sharing cropped visuals that excluded her face while highlighting parts of her body. She described the act as a serious invasion of privacy and dignity.
Concern Over Women’s Safety
Using her own experience as an example, Bindu Krishna questioned the level of safety available to ordinary women if such behaviour could occur even in the presence of a serving State minister. She expressed concern for schoolgirls, female teachers, and other women who may face similar incidents without the visibility or support available to public representatives.
The minister said such actions represent more than personal misconduct, calling them a significant violation that reflects the wider challenge of digital abuse and online exploitation. She stressed that incidents of this nature create an atmosphere of insecurity for women in both public spaces and digital environments.
Government Working on Comprehensive Policy
Highlighting the government’s response, Bindu Krishna said Kerala is drafting a dedicated policy to strengthen protection against digital harassment. She explained that the initiative is intended to introduce a more effective framework for preventing such offences while ensuring that women and girls can feel safer in their daily lives.
According to the minister, the proposed policy will require coordination across multiple departments to ensure its successful implementation. She said discussions would be held with both the Chief Minister and the Home Minister, as the cooperation of their respective departments would be essential in creating a practical and enforceable mechanism.
Call for Stronger Action Against Offenders
Bindu Krishna also underlined the need for stricter action against those involved in digital harassment. She said she generally prefers not to pursue punitive measures aggressively but believed this incident demanded a firm response because of its wider social implications.
The minister noted that stronger legal and administrative measures could serve as an important deterrent against similar offences in the future. She reiterated that the objective of the proposed policy is to create a safer environment where women and girls are protected from voyeurism, online abuse, and other forms of technology-enabled harassment.
The announcement comes amid increasing discussions across the country about strengthening safeguards against digital crimes affecting women. Kerala’s proposed policy is expected to focus on improving preventive measures, ensuring effective coordination among government departments, and reinforcing legal protections for victims of online harassment.