Cyber Crimes and Cyber Security of Women

Standing Committee Report Summary

• The Committee on the Empowerment of Women (Chairperson: Dr. D. Purandeswari) submitted its report on ‘Cyber Crimes and Cyber Safety of Women’ on March 23, 2026.  The Committee examined the rise in cybercrimes targeting women and children, including cyberstalking, sextortion, deepfakes, and online harassment, alongside gaps in reporting, investigation capacity, and platform accountability.  It noted that as per National Crime Record Bureau data, between 2017 and 2022, there has been a 239% increase in cybercrimes against women and a multi-fold rise in cases involving children.  Key observations and recommendations of the Committee include:

• Expanding investigation capacities:  The Committee observed that current investigative capacities remain poor across states, with reports of shortages in skilled cyber investigators and forensic analysts.  The Committee thus recommended standardising training quality, ensuring mandatory participation and linking cyber skilling to career progression across ranks.  It also recommends the establishment of additional regional forensic units, mobile cyber forensic vans and dedicated forensic consultants in every state.

• It further recommends the CyberShakti programme (to develop women workforce in cybersecurity) be scaled up by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).  It should have a dedicated vertical for training women police officers, cyber cell personnel and women officials from social welfare departments who often interact with victims.  It also recommended establishing specialised prosecution units for cybercrimes against women and creating dedicated training calendars for judicial academies.  Fast-track courts dealing with women-related cybercrimes must have judges trained in digital evidence and online harms.

• Accountability of social media platforms: The Committee recommended that social media intermediaries and digital platforms must adhere to higher accountability standards with shorter compliance timelines and mandatory deployment of AI driven detection tools.  Further, the Ministry may introduce age appropriate regulations and usage limits on social media to safeguard children and adolescents from adverse psychological impact.

• The Committee also recommended that mandatory KYC-based verification be introduced across all social media, dating and gaming platforms to curb the menace of fake profiles, impersonation and anonymous harassment.  It also recommended creation of special cyber units within police forces, supported by digital forensic capability, to fast-track investigations in offences against women.  Further, the government may initiate a time-bound examination to formulate a comprehensive and gender-sensitive cybercrime law.

• Reporting mechanisms:  The Committee recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) adopt a victim centric and simplified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) focusing on accessibility and confidentiality for women and children.  It also recommended that Anganwadi centres, women helplines, Panchayat digital kiosks, and other such touchpoints be equipped to file National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) complaints on behalf of the victim with confidentiality.  It also noted that the SOP should prescribe a standard 24 hour timeline for initiating takedown requests through the SAHYOG portal.  It should also incorporate a public-facing simplified version, explaining key steps for women, parents and guardians.  It also recommended the creation of a grievance escalation route for victims if police stations fail to act in accordance with the SOP.

• Awareness and outreach:  The Committee noted that cyber safety awareness among women and children remain inadequate, particularly in rural and low digital literacy areas.  It also noted that women hesitate to report cases due to stigma, lack of knowledge about the cybercrime helpline or the NCRP.  It recommended that both the MHA and MeitY design a national cyber safety awareness programme.  It further recommended that frontline workers such as ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and teachers be trained as Cyber Safety Ambassadors.

• Leveraging technology: The Committee recommended that MeitY and MHA jointly enhance and deploy advanced AI-driven tools such as the Proactive Monitoring Tool for detecting child sexual exploitative abuse material and certain other imagery affecting women and children.  It recommended that this tool further be integrated with the NCRP and law-enforcement workflows to ensure immediate initiation of takedown and investigative procedures.