FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LEGAL PROTECTION FROM TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED HARASSMENT OF WOMEN IN INDIA

Abstract Technology-facilitated harassment of women (TFHW) is an escalating form of gender-based violence in digital spaces that poses a serious challenge to sustainable development, gender equality, and access to justice. This article examines the gaps and limitations in India’s legal responses to TFHW, with particular reference to the country’s international obligations under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Using a qualitative legal methodology grounded in empirical research, the study draws on ten semi-structured interviews with purposively selected stakeholders. A thematic analysis of the interviews, using ATLAS.ti, revealed systemic shortcomings in legislative coverage, definitional clarity, and enforcement practices. Stakeholders identified several critical issues, including the absence of a statutory replacement for the repealed Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, the limited scope of Sections 67 and 67A, and the lack of legal recognition for non-sexual but gendered digital harms. Participants strongly advocated for a survivor-centric, harm-based, and technologically responsive legal framework that reflects the lived realities of women’s digital experiences. The article argues that effective redress for TFHW requires integrated legal reform, rooted in international human rights standards and sustainable development principles. It concludes with evidence-based recommendations to strengthen legal protection and access to justice for women in India’s evolving digital landscape.