Financial Express
April 2024 · Authored Article
Unmasking The Digital Bully: Exploring The Depths Of Cyberbullying In The Digital Age
Advocate Srijan Tiwari's analysis of India's cyberbullying legal landscape — covering IT Act provisions, IPC remedies, and evolving jurisprudence — published in Financial Express, April 2024.
Read Original Article on Financial Express ↗About This Publication
This article was authored by Advocate Srijan Tiwari and published in the Financial Express opinion section in April 2024. Financial Express is one of India's most respected financial and business newspapers. The article addresses the growing legal challenge of cyberbullying in India's digital economy.
The Digital Bullying Problem in India
India has over 900 million internet users — the world's second largest online population. With this scale comes a proportional surge in digital harassment, cyberbullying, and online abuse. Advocate Srijan Tiwari's Financial Express article examines the legal framework — and its limitations — in addressing this growing crisis.
Legal Framework Against Cyberbullying
India's legal arsenal against cyberbullying draws from multiple statutes:
Information Technology Act, 2000
Section 66C (identity theft), Section 66D (cheating by impersonation), Section 67 (publishing obscene material online)
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 354D (stalking), Section 500 (defamation), Section 507 (criminal intimidation through anonymous communication)
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
For cyberbullying involving minors and online grooming
IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2021
Obligations on social media platforms to address cyberbullying complaints within prescribed timelines
The Free Speech Balance
A significant challenge identified in the article is the tension between combating cyberbullying and protecting free speech guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Courts have consistently held that reasonable restrictions on speech causing harm to individuals are constitutionally valid — but the boundary between criticism and harassment in online spaces continues to be litigated.
Advocate Tiwari's analysis highlights the emerging jurisprudence — particularly from the Delhi High Court — that has developed standards for distinguishing protected speech from actionable cyberbullying, providing a roadmap for both victims and platforms.
Primary Practice: Drug & Cosmetics Law
Advocate Srijan Tiwari's exclusive litigation practice is drug and cosmetics law at Delhi High Court — representing pharmaceutical and cosmetics corporations in NSQ defence, regulatory disputes, and compliance matters. Contact: 9899966225
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