India is a growing technology hub. In 2019, it became the second most connected country in the world, with over 560 million internet users. As internet use in urban India increased during the pandemic, so did online violence on digital platforms, which tripled during the pandemic from 26% to 74%.
In India, many people, especially women and other marginalized groups, have to overcome traditional barriers to participate in the public sphere. These patriarchal norms are replicated online.
The information in this factsheet is largely derived from our 2021 report, Ending Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Women and Girls: A Call for International Standards.