Technology, while a tool for progress, has been misused in disturbing ways, as seen in India, where devices meant for wildlife monitoring have allegedly been used to harass and spy on women.
Camera traps, drones, and sound recorders—installed to track tigers and elephants—were reportedly used to intimidate women in villages near the Corbett Tiger Reserve, northern India.
In one shocking incident, a camera trap captured a photo of an autistic woman relieving herself in the forest in 2017. Local men shared the image on WhatsApp and Facebook to humiliate her. Enraged villagers destroyed the cameras in retaliation.
Trishant Simlai, a Cambridge University researcher, interviewed 270 villagers over 14 months for a study published in Environment and Planning. He found that women in these areas—who traditionally used the forest for freedom and socialization away from patriarchal norms—now fear being recorded or photographed.
“Drones were deliberately flown over women, forcing them to flee,” Simlai said, adding that cameras had extended the “male gaze” into their private spaces.
Some women have ventured deeper into the forest to avoid cameras, leading to dangerous encounters with wildlife. Tragically, one woman avoiding surveillance was killed by a tiger earlier this year.
Though some women have used the technology to escape domestic abuse by running in front of cameras, Simlai stressed the need for oversight. Conservation authorities must consult local communities, ensure transparency, and train workers sensitively.
Rosaleen Duffy, a conservation expert, emphasized the need for rules to prevent misuse, saying: “Drones and cameras, while crucial for conservation, should not become tools for harassment.”
Clear guidelines and accountability measures are essential to prevent such exploitation while preserving wildlife.
