Online harassment, AI-generated vulgar content: Telugu actress files complaint, shares 30+ links; case registered against 42

HYDERABAD: A Telugu actress has lodged a complaint with Cyberabad police alleging a sustained campaign of online harassment that began on Dec 23, following her response to an actor's statement about actresses’ clothing. Based on the complaint, Cyberabad cyber crime sleuths registered a criminal case against 42 accused, including influencers, operators of social media handles and media persons on Monday.The 40-year-old actress stated in her complaint that she became the focus of largescale defamatory commentary after making televised remarks in support of personal freedom for women in the Telugu film industry. She alle- ged several television anchors, social-media influencers and YouTube channels responded with abusive language that described the complainant’s body “in a loathsome and disgraceful manner”, and also posted AI-generated vulgar content, triggering a wider torrent of insults across multiple platforms. She named the director of an education society, a TV artist, TV channel anchors, administrators of several accounts on X, Instagram and YouTube, and the social media handles of some news media outlets as accused for posting objectionable content. The complainant waited for the abuse to subside, but the volume of derogatory messages increased, prompting her to seek legal intervention.On Dec 22, a Telugu actor made derogatory comments on women’s clothing worn by movie actresses and used obscene words to describe women’s bodies at a public event,” the complainant said.“This triggered public outcry and a debate on the subject. On Dec 23, at the inaugural of a clothing mall, media persons approached me for a response on the issue. I respectfully expressed my opinion in favour of individual freedom and personal choice in the capacity of being a fellow celebrity, who also enjoys public recognition in Telugu states,” she added.“Soon after my interview, the actor conducted a press meet on Dec 24 wherein he referred to me by name and my views, after which media channels, content creators started amplifying the debate by targeting me specifically. Social media users started sending me sexually abusive and obscene messages,” the complainant further informed the police. She also furnished details of over 30 hyperlinks of reels, shorts and live streams that allegedly carried the offending content.Removal of objectionable contentPolice registered a case under Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 79 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 336(4) (Forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 356 (defamation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66-E and 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act. “We are writing to social media platforms for removal of the objectionable content and to identify the accused,” a cyber crime investigator said.