For the second year in a row, Kannada news channels descended into voyeuristic coverage during New Year’s celebrations in Bengaluru, stalking and chasing couples and women on the packed streets of MG Road, Church Street, and Koramangala. The harassment was not limited to news channels alone, as some popular handles on X seem to have also shot videos of these women and hosted the videos on their handles.

Channels such as News18 Kannada, TV9 Kannada and Power TV News aired raw, unedited footage of these moments, lingering on women specifically wearing ‘modern’ outfits, focussing on their bodies as they emerged from pubs, sat vulnerably on curbs, or were just walking on the street. This voyeurism extended to social media platforms like X and Instagram, where the same clips were uploaded with captions like “Full tight (slang for inebriation) woman dances” and “Full tight couple falls on the road.”

The coverage didn’t merely reflect insensitivity; it veered into outright moral policing and harassment. Women leaving pubs or navigating the bustling streets were trailed by camera crews, who ignored their attempts to shield their faces or requests not to be filmed.

In several instances, women were captured without consent and reduced to clickbait. Captions such as “Drunk young woman fights with police,” “Woman falls on the road and struggles,” and “Kikkirida janagala madhye dum hodeda hudugi (Woman smokes amidst the crowd)” accompanied footage that zoomed in on women’s faces, bodies, or specific body parts.

One particularly invasive video captured a man carrying a woman out of a pub, became fodder for channels to plaster captions such as “Sensible boyfriend carries drunk woman on his shoulders.”

The coverage wasn’t limited to mainstream channels. A page on X called Karnataka Portfolio shared videos of women, tagging handles like the Bengaluru police commissioner. Captions such as “Boyfriend carries a heavily drunk girlfriend to ensure she reaches home safely” were used. Many Instagram meme pages also shared videos from TV channels on their handles. 

A few videos on Power TV News revealed police staff urging media personnel to back off, but these requests were largely ignored. In one such clip, a visibly upset woman attempted to grab a camera filming her against her will, only to have the media persist. Even as police officers were seen asking cameramen to refrain from invading women’s privacy, the coverage continued unabated, with cameras following women down the street.

What makes this trend particularly troubling is its persistence despite criticism. The coverage last year was equally invasive, drawing flak for its voyeuristic and moralistic tone. This year’s reporting appears to have doubled down on sensationalism, amplifying the moral policing of women with more channels joining in the same type of coverage.

Asked about this invasive coverage, a senior IPS officer told TNM, “We can’t do much. We can’t stop the media from filming. It is the media’s responsibility.”

However, Bengaluru-based advocate Rahul Machaiah stated that Section 79 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha could be invoked, particularly if the photos and videos are accompanied by derogatory captions. "As Section 79 is a cognisable offence and the matter involves public interest, the police have the authority to file a suo motu case," he explained.

He further added that the State Women’s Commission should ideally take cognisance and intervene under Sections 9 (functions of the Commission) and 10 (powers of the Commission) of the Karnataka State Commission for Women Act, 1995. "There are codes and guidelines prohibiting the indecent representation of women, but they are not stringent," he said.

Machaiah also pointed out that the aggrieved women could take legal action against the channels. "They can sue for defamation and indecent representation while seeking punitive damages," he noted.  He said the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, prohibits producing, distributing, or circulating any material—such as books, pamphlets, films, photographs, or drawings—that contains the indecent representation of women in any form.

"The persistent and intrusive filming of women by media outlets on New Year's Eve is a gross violation of privacy and dignity," said Chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Women, Nagalakshmi Chowdhary. "This kind of behaviour not only exploits women but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes. The media must exercise ethical responsibility. We must ensure that women can participate in public life without fear of being objectified or harassed."

This report was republished from The News Minute as part of The News Minute-Newslaundry alliance. It has been lightly edited for style and clarity. Support independent media and subscribe to NL-TNM today.

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