Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in India

Technology has advanced immensely, bringing connections, markets, and services into the palm of a hand. An impetus for human growth and development, it continuously alters human relations. The digital reality of interpersonal relationships has made its way into our lives and families. The dynamics of relationships in the real world have seeped into the virtual world. This offline-to-online continuum is also seen in controlling and violent behaviors, relationship abuse, crime, and exploitative malpractices. Gender-based violence is an all-pervasive form of violence, targeted or perpetuated toward a person because of their gender. This chapter aims to explore and comment on the interrelation and congruity between technology and gender-based violence, especially in regard to family violence against women in India. Following an introduction to gender-based violence, the chapter focuses on deconstructing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), summarizing available literature to enable holistic understanding. It then delves deeper into the use of technology to perpetuate and perpetrate domestic violence against women. It builds a legal perspective on TFGBV, encapsulating Indian laws and legislation on family, domestic and cyberviolence, the parity and harmony between them, and the inconsistencies and gaps. The last section focuses on addressing TFGBV through the prevention of its occurrence or re-occurrence and instituting response mechanisms. It reflects on the ways to engender technology and cyberspace and sheds light on some examples of response mechanisms. A brief conclusion brings together the key points for a socio-legal understanding of TFGBV against women in the context of family violence in India.