[20] DIGITAL JUSTICE AND FEMINIST RESISTANCE: DALIT WOMEN’S NEGOTIATION OF AI, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CYBER-VIOLENCE WITHIN INDIA’S LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORKS

ARTICLE INFO: Date of Submission: May 25, 2025, Revised: June 20, 2025, Accepted: June 27, 2025, https://doi.org/10.56815/ijmrr.v4i2.2025.268-277

Abstract

This article examines the intersections of Dalit feminism, digital
technologies, and legal frameworks in contemporary India, focusing on how
Dalit women navigate emerging forms of inequality and resistance within
online spaces. The background of the study is rooted in the historical
marginalization of Dalit communities and the persistence of caste-based and
gendered discrimination, which increasingly extends into digital
environments shaped by artificial intelligence, social media platforms, and
data-driven governance. While digital technologies are often celebrated for
democratizing expression, they simultaneously reproduce structural
hierarchies through algorithmic bias, digital exclusion, and cyber-violence.
Dalit women, in particular, encounter targeted online harassment, casteist
abuse, and violations of privacy, raising critical questions about access to
justice and the adequacy of existing legal protections.
Methodologically, the article adopts a qualitative and interdisciplinary
research design, combining textual analysis of legal frameworks (including IT laws and human rights provisions), critical discourse analysis of digital
platforms, and engagement with Dalit feminist scholarship. An
intersectional analytical framework is employed to examine how caste,
gender, class, and digital access interact within technological and legal
systems. The study also draws on case-based illustrations of online
harassment and activism to highlight lived experiences and strategies of
negotiation.
The analysis demonstrates that Dalit women exercise agency through digital
activism, strategic visibility, and community-building, even within hostile
online environments. However, their capacity to claim rights remains
constrained by gaps in legal enforcement, institutional bias, and the
inadequacy of cyber laws in addressing caste-based digital violence. The
article argues that legal frameworks often fail to recognize the intersectional
nature of online harm, thereby limiting effective redress. In conclusion, the
study proposes that achieving digital justice requires a feminist and
intersectional reconfiguration of legal and policy approaches. Strengthening
cyber laws, ensuring accountability of digital platforms, and promoting
inclusive digital access are essential for addressing systemic inequalities.
Dalit feminism emerges as a critical framework for understanding and
transforming the relationship between technology, law, and social justice in
India.