Surveillance Tools Used to Harass Women in India

In India, wildlife surveillance technology is being weaponized to harass and spy on women, exposing a deeper crisis of gender-based oppression.

A disturbing study by Cambridge researcher Trishant Simlai reveals that technology meant to protect wildlife in India, such as drones and camera traps, is being misused to harass and spy on women. Conducted near Corbett Tiger Reserve, the study found that drones were flown over women collecting firewood, forcing them to flee. The forest, long a sanctuary for women in India’s patriarchal society, has been tainted by the “male gaze” through surveillance technology.

One shocking incident involved the circulation of a photo of an autistic woman relieving herself, taken by hidden cameras and shared on social media by local men. This misuse of technology, intended to safeguard wildlife, has become a means of subjugating women in rural areas. Expert Rosaleen Duffy criticized the intentional nature of such surveillance, emphasizing its role in ongoing gender oppression.

India continues to rank among the world’s most unsafe countries for women, with over 40,000 rape cases recorded in 2023/24 alone. Even within the armed forces, sexual harassment is widespread, as seen in numerous high-profile cases. Despite laws and regulations introduced by the government, the conviction rate for rape remains low, signaling a failure in the judicial and law enforcement systems.

India’s growing international presence is overshadowed by its failure to protect women both domestically and abroad, further tarnishing its global reputation as an unsafe destination for female tourists. Civil society and international organizations must push for more stringent regulations on surveillance technology to ensure it is not misused to perpetuate gender-based violence.