📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / rmb
Crime
Kerala proposes special law to jail social media abusers targeting women
✍️ India Today
🗓 02 Nov 2026, 09:47 PM
👁 16
The Kerala government is considering a dedicated legislation that would impose imprisonment on individuals who use social media to harass or threaten women.
The state government of Kerala has announced that it is drafting a new law aimed specifically at curbing online harassment of women. Under the proposal, anyone found guilty of using social media platforms to threaten, intimidate or harass women could face a custodial sentence.
The draft legislation seeks to define a range of abusive behaviours, including posting hateful comments, sharing non-consensual images and orchestrating coordinated attacks against women online. Authorities say the measure is intended to fill gaps in existing cybercrime statutes, which they argue are insufficient to deter repeat offenders.
Lawmakers plan to present the bill to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in the coming weeks. Civil society groups and women's rights organisations have welcomed the move, urging swift passage and strict enforcement. The government has indicated that the law will also include provisions for victim support and faster redressal mechanisms.
The draft legislation seeks to define a range of abusive behaviours, including posting hateful comments, sharing non-consensual images and orchestrating coordinated attacks against women online. Authorities say the measure is intended to fill gaps in existing cybercrime statutes, which they argue are insufficient to deter repeat offenders.
Lawmakers plan to present the bill to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in the coming weeks. Civil society groups and women's rights organisations have welcomed the move, urging swift passage and strict enforcement. The government has indicated that the law will also include provisions for victim support and faster redressal mechanisms.