The Shadow of Lies: How Misinformation Disproportionately Harms Women in India
The digital revolution, once hailed as a democratizing force, has ironically become a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation, posing a significant global risk. While the internet offered unprecedented opportunities for women’s self-representation and participation in public discourse, it has morphed into a hostile space rife with hate speech, harassment, and manipulative content. The discourse surrounding this threat remains alarmingly narrow, primarily focusing on electoral politics and neglecting the specific ways in which misinformation impacts women, especially in rural and semi-urban areas of India.
The everyday realities of this digital threat are starkly illustrated by the experiences of women like Moti Dewangan, a digital literacy trainer in Chhattisgarh. She recounts instances of elderly women misled about their pensions and landless laborers panicked by rumors about benefit deadlines. These instances highlight the insidious nature of misinformation, which can range from seemingly harmless pranks to malicious schemes aimed at financial exploitation. The motivations behind spreading such rumors are often unclear, ranging from jokes to deliberate attempts at robbery and extortion. The uncertainty further fuels anxiety and distrust.
The impact of misinformation is not gender-neutral. While men may also fall victim to online scams and rumors, the consequences are disproportionately severe for women due to pre-existing inequalities. The digital gender gap and lower levels of digital literacy make women more vulnerable to manipulation. Similar to victim-blaming in sexual violence cases, women who fall prey to online scams often face harsh judgment and even violence from their families, further restricting their access to technology. This reinforces a vicious cycle, limiting women’s digital participation and exacerbating their vulnerability.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2024 reveals a concerning trend: while Indian women’s access to mobile internet had been increasing, it sharply reversed in 2021. This suggests that just as women were beginning to benefit from digital public infrastructure, they were pushed back into the private sphere. Even when women have access to technology, factors like cost, lack of skills, safety concerns, and the social stigma around women’s technology use create barriers. Furthermore, women who experience financial loss due to online scams often suffer greater psychological trauma due to societal expectations and their roles in managing household finances.
Misinformation also often targets women specifically. Scammers exploit social norms, such as the expectation that married women should not work outside the home, to promote work-from-home scams. Other schemes prey on women’s desire to save money, offering enticing deals on household items. The targeted nature of these scams, combined with limited digital literacy and social stigma, makes women particularly susceptible to their allure. Beyond financial scams, women also face unique threats like Instagram account hacks, misuse of personal photos, and blackmailing through fake profiles.
The vulnerability to misinformation is amplified for marginalized communities, particularly Adivasi and Dalit women. Jayanti Buruda, Odisha’s first Adivasi journalist, points out that dominant groups have historically kept tribal women uninformed, and while mobile internet access is rising due to online government services, these women experience significant fear and distrust of the internet due to misinformation. The lack of fact-checking mechanisms and trusted sources of information further exacerbates their vulnerability. Social media, even in its non-misinformative form, can propagate unrealistic portrayals of women, negatively impacting communities new to online spaces.
Misinformation about women’s bodies and health is another significant concern. Pre-existing menstruation taboos and myths are amplified through social media, potentially leading to risky health practices and self-medication. Misinformation around vaccinations, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, also poses a serious threat to women’s health. Similarly, Hindutva organizations often deploy misinformation to promote anti-feminist narratives, denying the existence of historical gender inequality and spreading misogynistic views. This targeted misinformation campaign aims to undermine women’s rights movements and reinforce traditional patriarchal structures.
The Shaheen Bagh protests, a powerful example of women’s activism, became a target of gendered disinformation campaigns. False claims circulated about the protesters, ranging from accusations of sexual promiscuity to allegations of drug dealing. These narratives aimed to discredit the movement and demonize the women involved. Similarly, the aftermath of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death saw a barrage of misogynistic attacks and conspiracy theories targeting Rhea Chakraborty, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about women.
Women with strong political opinions also face targeted harassment and trolling through misinformation. Fake social media posts, doctored images, and deepfake videos are weaponized to silence and discredit women journalists, activists, and artists. These tactics create a hostile online environment, deterring women from participating in public discourse.
The LGBTQ+ community is also disproportionately impacted by misinformation. False narratives about transgender identities and same-sex relationships are spread, fueling prejudice and discrimination. Instances of trans people being lynched based on WhatsApp rumors highlight the real-world consequences of such misinformation. The lack of accurate information about queer lives further exacerbates the problem, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and putting the community at risk.
Addressing gendered misinformation requires a multi-pronged approach. While government initiatives are lacking, several civil society organizations are working to bridge the gap. Digital Empowerment Foundation’s "Suchnapreneur" program trains rural women in digital literacy and equips them to fight fake news. Feminist organizations like Point of View are developing gamified learning methods to empower women against misinformation. Collaborative research projects are also underway to define, identify, and document gendered disinformation, providing a much-needed framework for tackling the issue.
Ultimately, creating a safer digital space for women necessitates not only combating misogyny and misinformation but also actively promoting women’s digital inclusion. Closing the digital gender gap and empowering women to participate fully online is crucial for dismantling the harmful effects of gendered disinformation. This requires a collective effort from governments, civil society, and individuals to challenge patriarchal attitudes and promote gender equality in the digital realm.