Protection of Women’s Dignity and Development of Laws against Revenge Porn on Women in India: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Revenge porn, means the unauthorized dissemination of private photographs or videos of a victim in cyberspace, is a newly judicially recognized crime and has an increasing trend in society with the increasing prevalence of technological advancement. This type of non-consensual pornography which is virtual rape, takes place for several reasons, i.e., taking revenge on his ex-partner, sextortion, blackmailing, getting custody of children from a divorced spouse, etc., which causes sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and more. Recent data shows that about 27% of total internet users in between 13-45 age groups were subjected to revenge porn in India. Though cases are being dealt with, with the help of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Information Technology Act, 2000 but till now, there are no explicit provisions dealing with this crime where victims can avail themselves of the relief effectively and without any hesitation. Today, no one can think of a life without the use of the Internet, but protecting women's rights is also a significant concern. Using a comparative analysis, the authors of this research paper will attempt to understand the rising concerns of revenge porn and its development and will try to present a solution to the problem.