Tech‑Facilitated Abuse: The Rise of Digital Violence Against Women in India

Tech‑facilitated abuse is increasingly turning into a brutal weapon for domestic predators, as the cases of Mumbai’s Sia and Pune’s Sujata show. The 34‑year‑old woman received a barrage of sexually explicit messages from unknown numbers until police intervention revealed that her estranged husband had posted her personal details on an adult website. A week earlier, 20‑year‑old Sujata suffered a violent assault after a man posed as a suitor on a dating app, promising marriage and then subjecting her to rape. These incidents are not isolated: Maharashtra’s cyber‑crime cell reports a 22‑month surge in digital extortion against women, with criminals siphoning over Rs 51 crore from more than a thousand victims.

Background / Context

When technology is weaponised, it amplifies the reach and persistence of abuse. In India, domestic and intimate partner violence is already endemic, with one in every three women over 15 experiencing some form of violence. Digital platforms now add a new dimension: stalking, doxxing, and blackmail can be carried out in real time, often from a covert distance, making detection and intervention far more complicated. While police records historically recorded physical abuse, the rise of “tech‑facilitated violence against women” forces law enforcement and health agencies to rethink both definitions and responses.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology and several NGOs now refer to these victims as “Survivors of technology‑facilitated abuse in intimate relationships,” highlighting the psychological and financial ramifications that extend beyond the immediate physical harm. The problem is not just domestic; the rise of social media and online marketplace apps has exposed women to fraudsters posing as friends or romantic interests, who then manipulate banking details, threaten to leak private information, or demand ransom.

Key Developments

• Legal Statistics. From January 2020 to October 2025, the Maharashtra State Cyber Cell recorded 1,085 women falling prey to cyberstalking or sexting, with extortion amounts totaling Rs 51.1 crore. Police recovered only Rs 1.24 crore, and froze Rs 2.4 crore, leaving the vast majority of the victims without restitution.
• High‑Profile Cases. The Sia case, where her estranged husband advertised her private data on a porn site, led to immediate police involvement and brought national attention to the phenomenon of online doxxing. Sujata’s assault, involving a pseudonymous dating app user who used “marriage” as a pretext, demonstrated how easily digital anonymity is leveraged for sexual violence.
• Digital Tracking and Control. Interrogations show that perpetrators often engage in “digital stalking” by checking victims’ texts, GPS location, and social media posts. A wife in Mumbai reported her husband’s constant scrutiny of her messages for the last two years, an issue now being factored into case assessments.
• Financial Extortion. Senior researcher Pratikshya Priyadarshini noted that partners link women’s bank or UPI accounts to mobile wallets, transferring funds without consent. Recent scams involve morphing women’s images into fake pornographic content and demanding ransom to prevent further dissemination.
• Law Enforcement Response. Deputy Inspector General (State Cyber) Sanjay Shintre highlighted a shift in scam tactics: the first wave aimed at small sums, but recent years have seen Rs 19 crore and Rs 22 crore extorted in 2024 and 2025 alone. Police now employ forensic analysis of social media activity to trace the perpetrators’ patterns.

Impact Analysis

For international students and expatriates in India, the intersection of cultural adjustment and digital exposure can amplify risk. Many students rely heavily on smartphones for communication, study, and networking, often sharing personal photos and data across multiple platforms. The rise of digital violence means that even in a foreign country, victims can be targeted by predatory strangers and abusive partners who exploit the anonymity of the internet.

Academic institutions and student hostels often provide limited counseling resources, and many new students are unaware that domestic abuse can manifest digitally. Without robust educational programs on digital privacy, users may inadvertently become easy targets—accepting friend requests from unknown users, sharing location data, or posting images without stringent privacy settings. The economic impact is also significant: a study by the Centre for Internet and Society estimated that over 30% of digital extortion victims lost more than ₹10,000 a month in compromised funds.

Expert Insights / Tips

Senior counselor Mrudula Sawant of the Dilaasa centre advises that early detection is critical. “If you notice sudden changes in your phone’s battery drain, new apps downloading silently, or unfamiliar numbers calling repeatedly, consider these red flags,” she explains. She recommends using two‑factor authentication on all accounts, reviewing app permissions, and setting default private modes on social media.

Student services should consider integrating a “Digital Safety” module into orientation programs. Former IPS officer‑turned‑lawyer Y P Singh stresses that “the best defense against stalking is vigilance: ignore any unsolicited friend requests, especially from users with incomplete profiles. If someone persists after you’ve blocked them, report it immediately to campus security or local police.”

Financial safeguards also play a role. Dr. Daksha Shah, BMC executive health officer, urges users to split funds across separate bank accounts with no link to mobile wallets that can be accessed remotely. “Create a separate UPI ID for personal transfers; do not share login credentials with anyone,” she says.

Looking Ahead

Lawmakers are now deliberating on a revised Digital Personal Data Protection Bill that would extend statutory penalties to include digital stalking and doxxing. The bill also proposes mandatory reporting of digital extortion cases by financial institutions and telecom operators, a move that could close current enforcement gaps.

Technology companies are under pressure to incorporate enhanced content moderation tools. Social media platforms are piloting AI‑based facial recognition filters to detect and flag fabricated pornographic content before it is posted. Mobile OS providers are rolling out “Safety Scores” that monitor app behavior for signs of spyware or data misuse.

Educational outreach remains paramount. Institutions that partner with national NGOs are launching confidential helplines and in‑app reporting features, allowing students to seek support discreetly. The state cyber‑cell is also developing a public portal where victims can anonymously submit their experiences, ensuring that data collection informs future policing strategies.

Conclusion

Digital violence against women is no longer a peripheral issue; it is a complex, evolving threat that intertwines with domestic abuse, financial fraud, and psychological harm. For international students, the key lies in proactive digital hygiene, awareness of potential risks, and timely engagement with support systems.

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