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Who Will Watch the Watchmen? The Mumbai Police's Inaction on Cybercrime

Exclusive | Mumbai: Who will watch the watchmen?

Updated on: 07 April, 2024 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai

In a revealing insight into the underbelly of Mumbai's cyber world, a serious complaint dealing with non-consensual intimate images of victims has been lying unattended in the Mumbai Police's inbox for over seven months. The complainant, Akancha Srivastava, an anti-online harassment activist known for her initiative Akancha Against Harassment, has been at the forefront of combating cybercrimes through education and awareness.

The Roadblock

Srivastava's complaint highlighted a concerning trend on social media where certain influencers were claiming they could assist individuals in removing their leaked, compromising images from the internet. This claim, she feared, could lead to further exploitation as these influencers and the website they promoted, Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Images Abuse (StopNCII), neither possessed the authority nor the means to execute such promises.

A Call for Action

Despite her efforts to bring this to the attention of the Mumbai Police and her proactive steps to confront these influencers, the lack of action from the authorities paints a grim picture of the challenges faced by activists in the digital age. Srivastava, who has dedicated her life to fighting cyber harassment, now finds herself in a perplexing situation. Her attempts to safeguard potential victims have been met with silence, questioning the efficacy of the systems in place to protect the digital populace.

The Silence of the Watchmen

The irony of the situation is palpable as Srivastava, who also educates police forces across the country on cyber law enforcement, faces inertia from the very institution she aims to empower. This raises an alarming question - if the guardians of the law turn a blind eye to such pressing issues, who will watch the watchmen?

A Call for Immediate Action

The Mumbai Police's inaction not only jeopardizes the safety and privacy of countless individuals but also undermines the efforts of activists like Srivastava, who tirelessly work to create a safer internet. It's high time that the authorities step up, take immediate action, and demonstrate their commitment to fighting cybercrime in all its forms.

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