DIGITAL VIGILANTISM IN INDIA: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND JURISDICTIONAL CHALLENGES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

Digital vigilantism has emerged as a complex socio-legal phenomenon in India, characterized by citizens utilizing online platforms to identify, expose, and punish perceived wrongdoers outside formal legal frameworks. This research paper examines the intricate legal and jurisdictional challenges confronting Indian law enforcement agencies when addressing digital vigilantism. The constitutional framework provides theoretical protections through Articles 19, 21, and 14, yet implementation remains problematic. The Information Technology Act and related regulations exhibit significant gaps in addressing coordinated vigilante campaigns. Jurisdictional complexities arise from the borderless nature of digital spaces, with vigilante activities frequently transcending territorial boundaries. Law enforcement faces substantial technical and procedural hurdles, including anonymity tools, encryption challenges, and electronic evidence admissibility requirements. The Indian judiciary has incrementally developed important jurisprudential principles through landmark judgments, though these often arrive too late to prevent irreparable reputational damage. International dimensions further complicate enforcement efforts, with cross-border evidence gathering mechanisms proving inadequate for time-sensitive digital cases. This paper contends that addressing digital vigilantism requires comprehensive reforms spanning legislative frameworks, procedural innovations, specialized law enforcement training, and enhanced international cooperation mechanisms to balance legitimate accountability demands with rule of law principles.