Kerala is examining a special law to punish social media attacks against women. The move seeks stronger protection for ordinary women facing online abuse.The government is considering a special law against online attacks on women. (File photo)Thiruvananthapuram,Nov 2, 2026 18:50 ISTThe Kerala government is examining the legal aspects of introducing a special law to prevent insults and attacks against women on social media, Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Monday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.Satheesan said existing laws offered little protection against such attacks following a Supreme Court verdict.

The proposed law is intended to protect ordinary women, who he said were the main targets of online abuse.“The government is thinking of sending those who attack women on social media to prison by bringing in a special Act,” Satheesan said while inaugurating ‘Makalkoppam’, a two-day seminar organised by the Women and Child Development Department in Thiruvananthapuram.The seminar was organised to help formulate a women’s policy after consultations with various stakeholders. Satheesan said the government wanted to ensure that no woman was attacked or insulted on social media.

He said chief ministers, ministers, MLAs and other political leaders knew how to defend themselves against online attacks. “But what can an ordinary woman, who does not know how to defend herself against such attacks, do? It is for them that we are planning this special Act,” he said, as reported by PTI.The Chief Minister also said the government was working to ensure women’s financial independence and had several projects in the pipeline.

A major project aimed at making every Kudumbashree member financially independent would be launched soon. “It is not a project designed for the entire state. Each area will have projects exclusively designed for that region,” Satheesan said.He said the ‘Makalkoppam’ initiative could lead to a women’s policy that would become a model for the country. “Usually, governments formulate a policy and ask others to follow it.

Here, we are seeking suggestions and opinions from all stakeholders, and the policy will be formulated by you. I assure you that the government will implement this policy with strong commitment,” he said.The government is thus considering a special law against online attacks on women while also consulting stakeholders on a women’s policy and preparing region-specific projects to support women’s financial independence.- Ends