Cyberstalking and Harassment of Women: Legal Framework and Enforcement Challenges

The growth of internet access, smartphones, social networking sites and messaging applications has created valuable opportunities for women’s education, employment, expression and participation in public life. At the same time, digital tools can be misused to monitor, threaten, sexually harass, impersonate, blackmail and intimidate women. Cyberstalking and online harassment may involve repeated unwanted messages, monitoring of electronic communications, publication of private information, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, fake profiles, doxxing and coordinated abuse. These acts can affect safety, mental health, reputation, livelihood and freedom of expression, and may spill into offline life. This paper examines the legal framework in India and the challenges involved in enforcing it. It discusses constitutional protections, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and workplace protections under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. It also considers reporting mechanisms, digital evidence, jurisdiction, platform cooperation, victim privacy and institutional capacity. The paper adopts a doctrinal and descriptive methodology based on legislation, official government resources and legal principles. It argues that India has several applicable legal provisions, but effective protection depends on timely investigation, consistent interpretation, trained personnel, accessible reporting, preservation of evidence, platform accountability and a victim-centred approach. Recommendations include specialised training, standard operating procedures, stronger digital-evidence practices, rapid response to intimate-image abuse, legal aid, public awareness and better coordination across jurisdictions.