Sun Oct 27 13:19:58 UTC 2024: ## National Commission for Women Holds Regional Law Review Consultation on Cyber Laws Affecting Women

**Guwahati, Assam:** The National Commission for Women (NCW) has initiated a series of regional consultations across India to review and propose amendments to existing cyber laws concerning women. The first such consultation was held on October 26th at the National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJA), bringing together legal experts from the northeastern states.

The consultation focused on the need to address emerging cybercrimes impacting women, such as cyberstalking, bullying, impersonation, identity theft, and deepfakes. The participants discussed key legislation like the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Information Technology Act, 2000, and proposed amendments to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

Justice Rumi Kumari Phukan, former judge of the Gauhati High Court, emphasized the need for stronger synergy between legislation, legal infrastructure, and enforcement sensitivity to effectively combat cybercrimes against women. Prof. (Dr.) Indrajit Dube, Vice-Chancellor of NLU Meghalaya, highlighted the need for mandatory reporting obligations for digital platforms, public-private partnerships, digital literacy initiatives, and robust accountability measures.

Dr Arjun Chetri, Assistant Director at the North Eastern Police Academy, stressed the need for stringent penalties for AI-driven cybercrimes like deepfakes. He also acknowledged the challenges posed by emerging technologies and the necessity for proactive legislation to protect vulnerable groups.

The NCW is committed to conducting eight consultations across India throughout October and December 2024, partnering with law colleges and universities in different regions. The aim is to engage experts from diverse fields, including judges, lawyers, police officers, government officials, academics, civil society representatives, and victims, to share experiences and propose solutions to address gaps in current laws and policies.

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