The Bulli Bai controversy started on January 1, 2022. Several Muslim women found their photos on an app without their okay. This app, Bulli Bai, was on the GitHub platform. It targeted women, including journalists, activists, and lawyers, with online harassment.
This was the second time this happened. The first was with “Sulli Deals” in July 2020. That app had over 80 Muslim women’s profiles, calling them “deals of the day.” It made many people very upset.
Now, the Bulli Bai app used fake auctions to make people think they were buying Indian women, mostly Muslim, for money. This shows we need to be more aware and act together to stop online bullying of minority groups.
Outrage Over “Bulli Bai” App Targeting Muslim Women
The “Bulli Bai” app caused a big stir, like the “Sulli Deals” app did in 2021. It seemed like a copy of the Sulli Deals app. This app used a bad term for Muslim women.
App Hosted Doctored Photos, Personal Details Without Consent
The Bulli Bai app was on GitHub, just like Sulli Deals. It showed photos of Muslim women without asking them first. It was similar to Sulli Deals, which targeted Muslim women on Twitter, including journalists.
Similar to “Sulli Deals” App That Sparked Controversy in 2021
The app had pictures of over 100 muslim women targeted for an online “auction.” This reminded people of the Sulli Deals issue in July 2020. Nearly 80 muslim women harassed online were sold on the app without their okay.
The word “Bulli” is a mean term for Muslim women in some places. The app made profiles without the victims’ permission, just like Sulli Deals.
“The controversy surrounding the “Bulli Bai” app targeting muslim women has triggered a major backlash for the second time in less than a year.”
The Bulli Bai app was made on GitHub, a site for software development owned by Microsoft. GitHub took action by suspending accounts and removing the app. But, this shows a worrying trend of hate and harassment against muslim women online.
What Is Bulli Bai App?
A group from India made the Bulli Bai app. It caused a big stir for how it treated Muslim women badly. The app called them “Bulli,” a mean word used in slang. It put up pictures of famous Muslim women, like journalists and lawyers, for sale online without asking them first.
Derogatory Term “Bulli” Used for Muslim Women
The word “Bulli” in the app’s name is very worrying. It’s a bad word used against Muslim women. This word has been used to make them feel less than human. Putting it in the app shows it was made to harass and shame these women.
Hosted on GitHub, App Listed Women for “Auction”
The app was on GitHub, a place for sharing code. People are upset that GitHub let this harmful app be there. The app listed Muslim women, including famous ones, for sale online. It showed their personal info and pictures without asking them.
This is the second app like this in India in six months. The first one was called Sulli Deals and caused a lot of anger in 2021. Both apps are seen as very sexist and anti-Muslim. People are calling for strong action against those who made and spread these apps.
“The app used the derogatory term ‘Bulli,’ which is used to refer to Muslim women in local slang, and hosted on the GitHub platform. The app listed Muslim women, including journalists, activists, and lawyers, for a virtual ‘auction,’ where their photos were displayed without their consent.”
Many people are very upset about the Bulli Bai app. Government officials and leaders are demanding action against those behind it. This shows we need to do more to stop online bullying and discrimination, especially against groups that are often targeted.
Targets Included Journalists, Activists, and Lawyers
The Bulli Bai app didn’t just target Muslim women. It also went after journalists, activists, and lawyers. These women were chosen because they spoke out on big issues. They were from different ages.
Over 100 Muslim women, including journalists, activists, and thinkers, were targeted. Their pictures were put on the “Bulli Bai” app without their okay. This was the second time in a year to “auction” Muslim women online, after “Sulli Deals” in 2021.
More than 5,000 people signed an open letter to the Chief Justice of India about this. FIRs were filed in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru after the latest auction. But, no one has been arrested yet for the “Sulli Deals” app case.
Many women felt they had to delete their social media because of these attacks. The app showed pictures of over 100 Muslim women for an “auction.” This was the second time in a year to auction Muslim women, after “Sulli Deals” app targeted nearly 80 Muslim women.
| Statistic | Details |
|---|---|
| Over 100 Muslim women targeted | The app included journalists, activists, and thinkers among those listed for an “auction” |
| 5 instances of online auctions in 6 months | Indicating a recurring trend of targeting Muslim women |
| Open letter endorsed by over 5,000 | Activists, intellectuals, and lawyers addressing the Chief Justice of India |
| FIRs filed in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru | After the latest auction incident, but no arrests made in the “Sulli Deals” case |
| Women felt the need to delete social media | Due to the attacks and harassment they faced |
The Bulli Bai app didn’t just target Muslim women; it also went after journalists, activists, and lawyers. These women were chosen for speaking out on big issues. They were from different ages.
Outrage and Calls for Action Against App Developers
The Bulli Bai app’s release caused a lot of anger and criticism from many leaders in India. People like Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi spoke out against it. They called on the government to act strongly against those behind it.
Rahul Gandhi used Twitter to speak out. He said, “This is a terrible way to treat Muslim women. The government must act quickly to stop these people. We can’t let them harm our sisters and daughters again.” Priyanka Chaturvedi also spoke up, saying, “The outrage over the Bulli Bai app shows we need to stop these harmful platforms. They target women, especially Muslim women, and we must act against the app makers.”
“This is a deplorable attempt to humiliate Muslim women. The government must act decisively to put the perpetrators behind bars and ensure such attacks on our sisters and daughters never happen again.”
– Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader
The opposition leaders’ condemnation of the app showed how serious this is. They want the government to act fast to stop the outrage over the Bulli Bai app. They want to protect the women being targeted.
People on social media and others are calling for action against the app makers. They want the government to stop these harmful actions. The government’s actions and the legal steps will be key in dealing with the outrage over the Bulli Bai app. They must stop such bad things from happening again.
Government Response to Bulli Bai Controversy
The Indian government has acted quickly after the Bulli Bai controversy. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the GitHub user behind the app is now blocked. The CERT and police are working together on this issue.
GitHub User Blocked, Further Action Coordinated
The Bulli Bai app targeted Muslim women by sharing their photos and personal info without permission. The government says the app’s creator has been blocked. They are working hard to solve this problem.
The Bulli Bai app is like the Sulli Deals app from 2021. The government is strongly against such actions. They promise to stop such incidents from happening again.
“The government is committed to taking all necessary steps to prevent such incidents and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
This action by the government is a good start to tackle online harassment of Muslim women. But, we need more to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Legal Implications and Potential Charges
The Bulli Bai app controversy has brought up big legal worries. There’s a chance of charges for defamation, sexual harassment, and hurting the modesty of Muslim women. The police in Mumbai and Delhi are looking into it, showing how serious it is.
Defamation and Invasion of Privacy
The app used personal info and fake photos of women without permission. This could mean charges for defamation and privacy invasion. The creators might face blame for harming the women’s reputations and causing them emotional pain.
Sexual Harassment and Intent to Outrage Modesty
The app’s ‘auction’ of Muslim women without their okay is seen as sexual harassment. It also aimed to outrage their modesty. This could lead to serious charges under the law.
The legal issues with the Bulli Bai app are being looked at closely. This case shows the need to stop online harassment and protect groups being targeted. As the probe goes on, the app’s makers could face big trouble. This could warn others against such wrong actions.
“The Bulli Bai app controversy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen online safety measures and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. As a society, we must prioritize the protection of marginalized individuals from such egregious violations of their fundamental rights.”
The legal issues with the Bulli Bai app are complex. There could be charges from defamation to sexual harassment. It’s important for the authorities to act fast and clearly. By tackling these problems and setting up strong safety measures, we can make the internet safer for everyone.
Arrests Made in Connection with Bulli Bai App
There have been arrests in the Bulli Bai app case. This app targeted Muslim women by posting their photos without permission. Now, many people are in custody.
The Mumbai Police caught three people – two men aged 21 and a woman of 18. They are Vishal Kumar from Bangalore, Shweta Singh from Uttarakhand, and Mayank Rawat from Uttarakhand.
Also, the Delhi Police caught Neeraj Bishnoi, a 20-year-old from Assam. He’s seen as the main person behind the Bulli Bai app. Bishnoi made Twitter accounts to help spread the app and talk about it.
Bishnoi wanted pictures of 100 “famous non-BJP Muslim women” for the app. The app was on GitHub, but GitHub took down the account for breaking their rules.
These arrests show how serious the police are about stopping harmful online actions. Experts say we need better rules to stop online bullying, especially against women from minority groups.
| Arrest Details | Accused Persons | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 3 arrests made by Mumbai Police | Vishal Kumar, Shweta Singh, Mayank Rawat | Bangalore, Uttarakhand |
| 1 arrest made by Delhi Police | Neeraj Bishnoi | Jorhat, Assam |
The Bulli Bai app case is still being looked into. More arrests might happen as the police find out who else was involved.
“The accused had been monitoring social media for developments in the case and had commented that Mumbai Police arrested the wrong person initially.”
Sulli Deals: The Precursor to Bulli Bai Controversy
The Bulli Bai controversy is not the first of its kind. In July 2020, an app called “Sulli Deals” appeared. It put over 80 Muslim women up for “auction” online. The app used photos the women had shared online, calling them “deals of the day.” The word “sulli” is a slur for Muslim women, causing a big social media reaction.
Similar App in 2021 Sparked Outrage Over Online Harassment
The Sulli Deals app showed photos and info of about 100 Muslim women online. A BCA student from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, made the app. He was arrested by Delhi Police on January 9, 2022. GitHub took down the app’s account after many complaints.
In May 2021, a YouTuber rated Pakistani women live on air, causing a stir. Over 800 women’s rights activists demanded action against the Sulli Deals app creators. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues also spoke out against the harassment of Muslim women in India.
In January 2022, the Sulli Deals creator was caught, and a new app, Bulli Bai, was made. It also auctioned Muslim women, with an engineering student involved. GitHub and Twitter were criticized for not stopping the harassment fast enough.
The Bulli Bai app started on January 1st, auctioning off over a hundred women. The Delhi Police filed a case under sections 509 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code. The Mumbai Cyber Police also filed a FIR against the app makers for stalking and defamation.
The Bulli Bai issue has caused a lot of anger and calls for action against those harassing Muslim women online. The Sulli Deals app in 2021 was a warning before Bulli Bai. It shows how online sexism is a big problem and we need better ways to stop it.
Cyber Security Experts’ Suggestions to Combat Such Apps
Cyber security experts say it’s hard to stop apps like “Bulli Bai” because they are often scams. These scams aim to trick users and take their money. To fight these apps, experts think the government should check apps well before they start working.
Experts also say that internet users should use their social media privacy settings. This limits how much of their info is shared online. Cybercriminals often look for easy-to-find data to use for bad things. By being careful, users can lower the chance of their info being used wrongly.
Also, the experts believe the government should make online safety and privacy laws stronger. This could mean watching online more closely, having tough rules, and working with tech companies. They should quickly take down harmful content to stop such problems from happening again.