In the middle of India’s forests, where wildlife grows with the help of technologies that protect them, a very troubling trend has shown up. Tools meant to protect biodiversity, like drones, camera traps and sound recorders are being used to spy on women and to harass them, especially in rural countries where men are more powerful than women. Misusing these kinds of technologies reflects not only that society is not doing enough to protect the rights of women, but also that the gap between progress and morals is getting wider.
The forests: a Haven for women
For women in the villages of northern India, especially those near the Corbett Tiger Reserve, woods have always been safe places where they can get away from the rules of society and be free. This sense of freedom is slowly going away, though. A study by Cambridge University researcher Trishant Simlai polled 270 people in the area and found shocking proof. Drones were first made to keep an eye on animals, but they have been flown over women on purpose, making them drop what they were doing and run for cover out of fear. What used to be a safe place is now an extension of the male gaze, made worse by technology that gets in the way.
Use of technology for Oppression
Camera traps were once seen as a big step forward in protecting wildlife, but now women see them as signs of mistrust and fear. In one horrible case, local men shared a picture of an autistic woman going to the bathroom in the forest on social media, which caused anger and led to the destruction of nearby cameras. Rosaleen Duffy, a conservation expert from Sheffield University, says that this kind of misuse is not a mistake. Instead, it shows that people are trying to use spying as a way to bother people on purpose. These crimes are not isolated incidents; they are part of a larger society that lets bad people get away with murdering women. In this situation, surveillance is a new form of male control that is hidden behind the idea of being environmentally friendly.
India’s Poor Track Record on Protecting Women
India has a reputation for being one of the safest places in the world for women, and this is true. Despite its aspirations of becoming a more powerful economy, India has a terrible history of violence and harassment against women. Since 2012, when the world was shocked by the infamous Delhi gang rape, rape incidents have reached 30,000 annually, with over 40,000 cases recorded in 2023-2024. Amazingly, four rapes are reported every day in Delhi alone. This number probably does not reflect the true number of rapes because many people do not report them. The issue not only affects Indian government but schools as well. Cases of harassment in the armed forces, including claims against senior officers like Major General R.S. Jaswal, show how morals are falling apart in places that are supposed to support discipline and honor. Women from other countries are also often hurt in this dangerous place. High-profile cases involving foreigners not only hurt India’s reputation around the world, but they also make people who want to visit India because of its rich history and culture worry about their safety.
The justice system’s failure
The Indian government has enacted certain laws to prevent violence against women, but they don’t seem to be working. According to renowned criminal defense attorney Rebecca M. John, the rape conviction rate has remained between 27 to 28% from 2018 to 2023. She says that predators are more likely to commit crimes when they don’t think they will be caught. This shows that there are major problems with the way police and the courts work. The fact that justice wasn’t done shows a bigger problem in society: abuse against women has become normal. This normalization, along with the wrong use of technology, makes it so that women are hurt by both people and the systems that are supposed to defend them.
Progress and Ethics
The wrong use of technologies for tracking wildlife is a perfect example of the moral problems that a country that is growing quickly has to deal with. India’s world economic status is growing, but its society is showing a lot of wear and tear. Conservation efforts are very important, but when tools that are supposed to protect the environment are used to take advantage of weak groups, it makes us question goals and how we run the government. The government’s unwillingness to stop this kind of abuse also hurts its foreign promises to protect human rights and gender equality.
International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and civil society groups need to demand more openness, tighter rules and responsibility for those who abuse surveillance technologies. The technologies that can help the country protect the environment and improve its place in the world are being twisted into tools of oppression and control. When these tools are abused, they can make gender inequality worse and push women further to the edges of society. India must find a way to balance progress and morality. That is not the point. The more important question is whether it will choose to.
Need of the Hour
More and more reports show that women’s privacy and respect are being violated in India. This makes us wonder what kind of progress India is making if it costs the safety and freedom of half of the population. What kind of greatness can a country strive for if its weakest people are taken advantage of in the name of innovation? India won’t be able to become a world leader until it makes sure that its rules, technology and social norms all work together to protect women instead of oppressing them.
I think it is time for India to look inward, take responsibility and most importantly, do something about this shameful abuse of power and technology. Will India stand up to this, or will it let these tools keep up its deep-seated gender inequality? The choice, as always, lies with its people and their willingness to demand change and stand against societal ills.
