New Initiative Combats Gender-Based Misinformation in Rural India

In a pioneering effort to expose the harsh realities of gendered disinformation in rural India, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has partnered with Chambal Media to document and counteract the growing problem affecting women and gender-diverse individuals across the country.

The collaboration, titled “Unpacking gendered disinformation in India: Deepening understanding and exploring countermeasures,” aims to build evidence-based knowledge about the causes, trends, and impacts of online disinformation targeting marginalized communities, while exploring potential remedies.

Earlier this year, APC’s feminist platform GenderIT.org published a series of articles highlighting various manifestations of the issue. The reporting exposed how online misinformation exploits the financial vulnerability of LBQT+ communities in India, who are often excluded from formal banking and welfare systems, making them susceptible to unsafe digital loans and scams.

Other investigations revealed how sexual health misinformation flourishes when social media algorithms prioritize emotionally charged content over factual information, and how Dalit and feminist content creators face targeted harassment when speaking up on platforms like Instagram. Muslim women have been similarly subjected to hate campaigns and digital violence through coordinated disinformation efforts.

“What we’re seeing is a dangerous intersection of existing social discrimination and new digital technologies,” explained an expert familiar with the project. “These aren’t just online problems—they have real-world consequences for women’s safety, livelihoods, and ability to participate in public discourse.”

The initiative comes at a critical time as internet access expands rapidly across rural India. According to Srishti, business development lead at Chambal Media and editor of KL Hatke, most conversations about gendered disinformation have previously centered on urban experiences, overlooking the unique challenges faced in rural communities.

“Digital literacy remains low in rural areas, and social norms often restrict women’s ability to own and operate smartphones,” Srishti noted. “When women who are new to the internet face harassment or disinformation campaigns, they typically shut down their accounts due to family pressure or safety concerns, effectively pushing them offline before they can fully explore their digital rights.”

Sejal, a staff writer and journalist at Khabar Lahariya, emphasized that the consequences of gendered disinformation extend far beyond the digital realm in rural contexts. “In tightly-knit rural communities, reputation directly impacts livelihood and personal safety. When women face smear campaigns or manipulated images online, it can lead to social isolation, loss of work opportunities, and even physical danger.”

Khabar Lahariya brings particular credibility to this project as an award-winning, independent news outlet with an all-women team that is Dalit-led but also includes Muslim, OBC, and upper-caste journalists doing groundbreaking rural reporting.

The partnership will produce a four-part multimedia series distributed across social platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. The content will examine why gendered disinformation spreads, how platforms can be held accountable, and what systemic changes are needed to address the problem.

“This collaboration represents a unique opportunity to bridge grassroots experiences with broader research on disinformation,” Srishti explained. “We’re bringing together the authentic perspectives of rural women navigating the internet with insights from researchers and experts studying these phenomena.”

The series aims not only to document the harm caused by gendered disinformation but also to spark conversations about potential solutions and support systems. For many in the target audience, this may be their first introduction to the concept of gendered disinformation and its various manifestations.

“Our goal is to make digital spaces more inclusive for women everywhere, especially those on the margins,” said Sejal. “This isn’t just about awareness—it’s about creating pathways to safety and accountability.”

The multimedia content will be published on Khabar Lahariya’s digital platforms and republished on GenderIT.org, reaching both rural Indian audiences and the global digital rights community. Those interested in following the series can subscribe to newsletters from both organizations to receive updates directly.

As internet penetration continues to grow across India, this timely initiative highlights the critical importance of addressing gendered disinformation to ensure that digital expansion leads to greater inclusion rather than perpetuating existing patterns of exclusion and harm.