Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai has sounded a clarion call over the growing vulnerability of girls in the digital age, emphasizing that the challenges they face today extend far beyond physical safety. At a national stakeholders consultation on safeguarding the girl child, he highlighted issues such as online harassment, cyberbullying, digital stalking, misuse of personal data, and deepfake imagery as emerging threats that demand urgent legislative and institutional attention.

Speaking at the event organized by the Supreme Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee in cooperation with child welfare organisations, CJI Gavai pointed out that constitutional and legal protections, though well established on paper, often fail to keep pace with the speed and sophistication of technology. He said that while many girls continue to be denied opportunities and rights in the physical world, their digital exposure now multiplies risk in unseen ways.

“Technology, though empowering, also brings vulnerabilities—especially for the girl child,” he remarked. He warned that misuse of data, malicious AI manipulations, and harassment in virtual spaces can have lasting psychological, reputational, and safety consequences. He stressed that institutions, law enforcement, and policymakers must evolve in tandem with this shift, rather than playing catch-up.

To meet this challenge, CJI Gavai proposed specialised laws focused on digital harassment and cyber exploitation, as well as targeted training programs for police officers, educators, local administrators, and judicial authorities. He said that training must equip officials with sensitivity, technical understanding, and context awareness—so they can respond to complaints not just legally, but empathetically.

Importantly, Gavai noted, legal frameworks must be bolstered with effective enforcement, awareness initiatives, and education. He cautioned that laws without enforcement or public understanding would be inadequate; girls must be empowered to report abuse, and support structures must exist to protect survivors.

The consultation drew participants from courts, child rights groups, academia, and social welfare agencies. Discussions centered on how to adapt existing frameworks—such as juvenile justice law, cyber law, and child protection norms—to include provisions for new threats like AI-generated content, non-consensual image manipulation, and stalking across digital platforms.

Justice B. V. Nagarathna, Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee, added that true equality can be said to exist only when a girl in India can equally aspire, learn, and achieve without facing gender-specific barriers—online or off.

As India accelerates digital transformation, CJI Gavai’s interventions underscore a critical reality: while connectivity opens doors, it also opens vulnerabilities. Addressing those risks proactively is essential if the next generation is to grow not just connected, but truly secure and free.