In India, gender-based harassment is undermining the work of women journalists

Social media is a weaponof choice against women journalistsin the country, accompanied by threats and gender-based violence. "Looking at the scale of what's happening in India, it's definitely unprecedented,"says Dhanya Rajendran, editor-in-chief and co-founder of the online media outlet The News Minute. "You put out something, then - from film actors, fan clubs, to political parties, to business people - everybody has now gangs who organise themselves through either telegram or WhatsApp and they just come and abuse you."she continues. Then, "there are 50 to 100 YouTube channels which are run by the same group of people, who will then amplify this," before the mainstream media picks up on the attack, after which it is impossible to contain.

Freelance journalist Neha Dixitadds: "when male journalists are attacked, often the accusations are that they are paid or they're corrupt. But when women journalists are targeted, immediately we are called sluts and prostitutes. And immediately there are rape threats that follow." This is done with complete impunity.

Muslim women are particularly frequent targets, as shown by the repeated attacksagainst columnist Rana Ayyubsince 2024, and more recently against freelance journalist Gafira Kadir.In addition to threats, the risk of attack is real - Lankesh Patriketabloid journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was harassed online, was shot dead in front of her home in the city of Bangalore in southern India in 2017.

To combat gender-based online harassment, RSF has shared the practical guidefrom the organisation Women in Media on its "Resources for Journalists" platform, which outlines how to react in the first 24 hours after an attack.