Asianet News Files Complaint Over Online Harassment of Women Journalists

July 28, 2025 – India –

Asianet News, a leading Malayalam-language news outlet based in Kerala, India, has filed a formal complaint with cybercrime authorities after several of its women journalists were subjected to a coordinated online harassment campaign. The complaint, submitted on July 28, alleges that the journalists were targeted with doctored images, explicit abuse, and defamatory content circulated widely on social media and anonymous messaging platforms.

The attacks appear to have intensified following recent news coverage by Asianet News on politically sensitive issues. According to the complaint, the harassment included digitally altered photos, sexualised slurs, and organised trolling across platforms such as Facebook, X, and WhatsApp. Multiple fake profiles were reportedly used to amplify the abuse. Some of the targeted posts also circulated within WhatsApp groups closely linked to political operatives.

Asianet News has called the campaign a calculated attempt to silence independent journalism and intimidate women reporters in particular. The company stated that it has identified patterns suggesting a coordinated effort to damage the credibility of the journalists, several of whom are well-known anchors and field reporters.

The Kerala Union of Working Journalists and other press freedom groups have condemned the attacks, calling on authorities to take swift and decisive action. They highlighted the increasing vulnerability of women journalists in digital spaces and stressed that online harassment is being used as a tool to discourage critical reporting. The Network of Women in Media, India, also issued a statement supporting the affected journalists and urging law enforcement to pursue criminal accountability.

Asianet News has said it will provide legal and psychological support to its staff. The organisation is also pressing social media companies to remove offensive content and track the source of the harassment.

The case has reignited national discussions around the urgent need for stronger legal protections against online violence targeting journalists, particularly women. Advocates argue that without accountability, such campaigns contribute to a climate of fear that threatens press freedom and the representation of women in the media.

References

https://www.newslaundry.com/2025/07/29/asianet-news-files-complaint-over-online-campaign-targeting-women-journalists

https://www.inkl.com/news/asianet-news-files-complaint-over-online-campaign-targeting-women-journalists

https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/asianet-news-files-complaint-over-online-campaign-targeting-women-journalists