How can we address the issue of online violence faced by women and children? In what ways can platforms and law enforcement help the process? These are some of the questions addressed in this episode where Shashank and Tavishi speak with Uma Subramanian. They look at online violence in India, the particular harms faced by women and children, the role of platforms and law enforcement, the problems in reporting, and the work done in this field by RATI. 

Uma Subramanian is a social worker and has over 15 years of experience of working with children at risk. She conceptualised and co-founded RATI (Rights. Action. Technology. Inclusion.) and its Aarambh India Initiative. Under the leadership of Uma & her co-founder Siddharth Pillai, the Aarambh India initiative was awarded the Presidential National Award in the year 2017 for their groundbreaking work on Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse Material. At RATI, Uma leads the fundraising, oversees the strategic direction of the organisation and contributes across all programs in implementation of on-ground interventions.

Resources: 

• cybercrime.gov.in portal : https://cybercrime.gov.in/
• Data between 2020-2023 : more than 22 lakh complaints on this portal (source): https://ciso.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/cybercrime-fraud/national-cybercrime-portal-got-21-lakh-cases-firs-in-only-2/101268153#:~:text=Delhi%20received%20216%2C739%20complaints%20on,obtained%20by%20activist%20Jeetendra%20Ghadge. 
• Rati's Trustline: https://ratifoundation.org/meri-trustline/ 
• Stop NCII: https://stopncii.org/
• Internet Watch Foundation hotline : https://www.iwf.org.uk/our-technology/
• Keyword stuffing: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies#keyword-stuffing

Hosts: Shashank Mohan, Tavishi Ahluwalia

Editor: Gopika P

Fact Checker: Srija Naskar, Joanne D’Cunha

This podcast is created by the ⁠Centre for Communication Governance⁠ at NLUD. Reach out for any queries / suggestions at ccgoutreach@nludelhi.ac.in 

(The opinions expressed in the episode are personal to the speaker. The University does not subscribe to the views expressed in the episode and does not take any responsibility for the same.)