A parliamentary committee has called for a comprehensive and gender-sensitive cybercrime law, citing a sustained rise in offences targeting women and children across India. The recommendation comes amid data showing a sharp increase in complaints linked to online abuse, fraud, and harassment.
According to figures from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), more than 2.48 lakh complaints involving women and children were recorded between 2019 and April 2025. The committee noted that this rise coincided with increased digital dependence during the COVID-19 pandemic, which expanded both access and exposure to online platforms.
Officials said the surge in reported cases reflects not only a growing threat landscape but also increasing awareness and institutional responsiveness.
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Fragmented Legal Framework and Enforcement Gaps
The committee observed that cyber offences affecting women and children are currently addressed through a patchwork of laws, including the Information Technology Act, 2000; the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012; and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
While these statutes collectively cover a wide range of offences, their dispersed nature has led to overlapping mandates, interpretational ambiguities, and uneven enforcement. Procedural delays and jurisdictional challenges have further complicated the response to cybercrime cases.
Against this backdrop, the panel emphasized the need for a unified legal framework that would harmonize existing provisions rather than replace them, enabling clearer enforcement mechanisms.
Platform Accountability and Verification Measures
A central focus of the committee’s recommendations was the role of digital platforms, particularly social media, messaging services, and online gaming and dating applications. It called for stricter accountability standards, including periodic re-verification of user accounts and the maintenance of high-risk flags for profiles repeatedly reported for abuse.
The panel also recommended introducing mandatory know-your-customer (KYC)-based verification across platforms to curb fake profiles, impersonation, and anonymous harassment. It proposed the establishment of strict licensing norms and age-verification protocols, especially for platforms frequented by minors.
In addition, the committee urged penalties for platforms that fail to protect users, particularly women and children, from coercive or fraudulent practices. It also suggested implementing age-appropriate regulations and calibrated usage limits to mitigate potential psychological harm to younger users.
Underreporting and Structural Challenges
Despite the rise in complaints, the committee noted that cyber offences remain significantly underreported. Factors such as fear, social stigma, and limited digital literacy continue to discourage victims—particularly young girls, rural women, and socio-economically vulnerable groups—from coming forward.
The report drew on inputs from multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Cyber Peace Foundation, experts from the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), and representatives from major social media companies.
It also highlighted data from the National Crime Records Bureau indicating a nearly 239 percent increase in cybercrime against women and a multi-fold rise in cases involving children between 2017 and 2022.
Taken together, the findings underscore the complexity of addressing cybercrime in a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, where legal, technological, and social factors intersect.
