MUMBAI: Cases of cyberbullying increased by 31% in Mumbai between 2021 and 2022. Experts have given a nuanced opinion about the trend. Cyberbullies revel in the “sense of anonymity” that the digital world offers them, while the majority of the bullied children and women are too traumatised to seek help and prefer to stay hidden.
According to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 234 cyberbullying cases were registered in 2022 across the city, while the corresponding figure in 2021 was 178.Cyberbullying makes up for 7.7% (834) of the 10,792 cyber offences recorded by the Mumbai police between 2018 and 2022, according to the NCRB report. Officers say the police can only intervene if complaints are filed. There has been a flurry of high-profile cases that saw prompt arrests: 27-year-old Kolhapur resident Shashikant Jadhav was arrested in August 2020 for cyberbullying Bollywood actor Sonakshi Sinha.
While cybercrime expert Nirali Bhatia said the rise in the crime is “due to more people coming forward to register complaints, which was not the case earlier”, cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia said the number of registered cases for a metropolitan city such as Mumbai is meagre. “The numbers are likely to be higher as the majority do not come forward to register complaints,’’ he said. “Obscene content and trolling on social media platforms are on the rise. It is time for the cyber police to act sternly.”
The main issue, according to experts, is the lack of awareness about what constitutes cyberbullying and the avenues for redressal. Police officers say cyberbullying is partially due to a lack of knowledge and instruction regarding online safety. “Many children and adolescents aren’t aware of the dangers of talking to strangers online or disclosing personal information online,’’ said an officer. Sanjay Shintre, SP, Maharash tra Cyber Cell, said that in many cases, fake IDs are created by the accused to post or send obscene mail online. “If someone bullies you online, try to avoid the situation. Sometimes people intentionally abuse you or say bad words to you just to check if you will respond or not. These kinds of people find a chance to harm others if someone replies to their emails or messages,” he said. IPS officer turned-lawyer YP Singh said cyberbullying is a cognizable offence and investigation officials act sternly against defamatory and obscene posts and contents. In May 2023, Pant Nagar police in Ghatkopar (East) arrested Ramchandra Ambardkar for posting obscene comments about women police officers on Twitter. In January 2023, Malad police arrested 22-year-old Harsh Gindra on a complaint filed by a14-year-old girl’s mother for sending obscene messages.
According to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 234 cyberbullying cases were registered in 2022 across the city, while the corresponding figure in 2021 was 178.Cyberbullying makes up for 7.7% (834) of the 10,792 cyber offences recorded by the Mumbai police between 2018 and 2022, according to the NCRB report. Officers say the police can only intervene if complaints are filed. There has been a flurry of high-profile cases that saw prompt arrests: 27-year-old Kolhapur resident Shashikant Jadhav was arrested in August 2020 for cyberbullying Bollywood actor Sonakshi Sinha.
While cybercrime expert Nirali Bhatia said the rise in the crime is “due to more people coming forward to register complaints, which was not the case earlier”, cyber expert Ritesh Bhatia said the number of registered cases for a metropolitan city such as Mumbai is meagre. “The numbers are likely to be higher as the majority do not come forward to register complaints,’’ he said. “Obscene content and trolling on social media platforms are on the rise. It is time for the cyber police to act sternly.”
The main issue, according to experts, is the lack of awareness about what constitutes cyberbullying and the avenues for redressal. Police officers say cyberbullying is partially due to a lack of knowledge and instruction regarding online safety. “Many children and adolescents aren’t aware of the dangers of talking to strangers online or disclosing personal information online,’’ said an officer. Sanjay Shintre, SP, Maharash tra Cyber Cell, said that in many cases, fake IDs are created by the accused to post or send obscene mail online. “If someone bullies you online, try to avoid the situation. Sometimes people intentionally abuse you or say bad words to you just to check if you will respond or not. These kinds of people find a chance to harm others if someone replies to their emails or messages,” he said. IPS officer turned-lawyer YP Singh said cyberbullying is a cognizable offence and investigation officials act sternly against defamatory and obscene posts and contents. In May 2023, Pant Nagar police in Ghatkopar (East) arrested Ramchandra Ambardkar for posting obscene comments about women police officers on Twitter. In January 2023, Malad police arrested 22-year-old Harsh Gindra on a complaint filed by a14-year-old girl’s mother for sending obscene messages.