REGULATING ONLINE PLATFORMS: THE EFFECT OF ONLINE HARRASMENT AND HATE SPEECH ON WOMEN’S ENGAGEMENT IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

The internet was once viewed as a space of equality, a democratic platform where every voice could be heard without barriers. Yet for women entering political conversations online, this vision often collapses under the weight of harassment, hate speech, and targeted abuse. This paper examines how these forms of digital hostility impact women’s political participation, both by silencing their voices and by shaping the culture of fear that surrounds female presence in public discourse. Online trolling, defamation, and threats of sexual violence have become powerful tools that discourage women from speaking out, influencing debates, or taking on leadership roles. What begins as a conversation quickly becomes a confrontation, forcing many to withdraw or self-censor to survive in spaces that should have empowered them. Through case analyses and a review of current regulatory frameworks, the study highlights the disconnect between the protection promised by law and the reality women face in digital spaces. Despite platform guidelines and cybercrime legislation, responses remain inconsistent, delayed, and largely indifferent to the gendered nature of online abuse. The failure to recognize this difference reinforces a culture where women’s voices are undermined, and democracy loses its inclusivity. This paper argues that the regulation of online platforms must move beyond technical enforcement and address the deeper social and cultural biases that drive gender-based digital violence. True reform demands accountability from platforms, empathetic lawmaking, and a collective effort to create safer online environments. Only when women can speak without fear, lead without restraint, and engage without hostility will digital participation fulfil its democratic promise. Until then, the internet remains an unfinished revolution — powerful, yet profoundly unequal.

• Alexander C, Research Scholar, School of Law, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala Rangarajan Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai
• Dr. B. Venugopal, Professor and Dean, School of Law, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala Rangarajan Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai

Alexander C, Dr. B. Venugopal “REGULATING ONLINE PLATFORMS: THE EFFECT OF ONLINE HARRASMENT AND HATE SPEECH ON WOMEN’S ENGAGEMENT IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES,” IPEM Law Journal, vol. 9, pp. 27–35, Dec. 2025, doi

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