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Wildlife Monitoring Tech Misused to Invade Women’s Privacy in India: Cambridge Study
In northern India, cameras and drones intended for wildlife monitoring are being misused to invade the privacy of women, causing serious concerns about safety and harassment. The unintended consequences of such technologies highlight the urgent need for ethical implementation and accountability in surveillance projects.
In a troubling revelation from northern India, cameras and drones deployed for wildlife tracking are being misused to monitor women without their consent. This practice has sparked widespread concern, particularly in the Corbett Tiger Reserve region, where domestic violence drives many women into the forest to seek solace from abusive homes.
For some women, the forest is a rare sanctuary where “nobody is watching us, and we can be carefree,” as one woman shared with researchers. However, the increasing presence of surveillance technology has made this escape nearly impossible. According to reports, rangers are using drones to chase away women who legally enter the forest to gather herbs and firewood. Camera traps have also been exploited to spy on women, compromising their privacy and dignity.
A study conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge involved interviews with individuals in the affected regions. It revealed how the introduction of these technologies, while intended to aid conservation efforts, has inadvertently caused harm to local communities, particularly women.
In one distressing incident, an image of a woman using the toilet in the forest—captured by a camera trap—was circulated on social media platforms as a form of harassment. “This is deliberate misuse of technology,” stated Trishant Simlai, lead author of a study published in Environment and Planning F. The study involved interviews with 270 individuals living near the reserve and shed light on how these technologies, originally intended for wildlife conservation, are being weaponized against vulnerable groups.
The misuse of such surveillance tools has had dire consequences. Women are now avoiding singing loudly in the woods—a traditional practice to deter tigers—out of fear of triggering camera traps. This silence has increased the risk of sudden encounters with wildlife, leading to tragedies, including the death of one woman in a tiger attack.
Experts have warned that these incidents serve as a stark reminder of the potential misuse of surveillance technology. “It’s very common for projects to use these technologies to monitor wildlife,” said coauthor Chris Sandbrook, “but this highlights that we really need to be sure they’re not causing unintended harm.”
As calls grow louder for ethical guidelines and strict monitoring of such surveillance projects, it remains crucial to address the dual challenges of conserving wildlife and protecting human rights, especially those of marginalized groups like women in rural areas.
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