'I was slut-shamed' - Indian women 'cockroach' protesters doxxed and abused
Young women involved in India's 'Cockroach Janta Party' protest movement are facing severe online harassment, including doxxing and rape threats. The backlash highlights the gendered nature of digital abuse directed at political activists.
Why it matters
It underscores the dangerous intersection of digital surveillance, online misogyny, and political suppression in modern protest movements.
Image source, Hindustan Times via Getty Images Image caption, The women BBC spoke to say they received threats and abuses after participating in the CJP protests
Their videos lasted only a few seconds: lip-syncs, sarcastic reels and jokes filmed on the way to protests.
But while thousands of young people filled social media with memes and videos mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi during one of India's biggest anti-government protest in years, many of the women behind those posts say they have paid a heavy price for speaking out.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement that helped force the resignation of India's education minister, relied as much on Instagram as it did on marches.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in