A social media storm over a Melbourne bar's handling of an alleged indecent assault has raised debate about where legitimate political rallying and consumer criticism becomes vigilantism online.

A man has been charged with indecent assault and related offences, alleged to have occurred at the popular city Troika Bar in the early hours of Sunday, March 3. The man has been bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates court on June 21.

Hollaback! Melbourne director Alanna Inserra and co-director Jessica Vovers. Credit:Justin McManus

On Wednesday, the alleged victim posted an anonymous account of the events on Hollaback! Melbourne, the local version of an international web network that aims to raise awareness of street harassment as violence against women.

In the post, she strongly criticised Troika Bar's response, claiming a manager who witnessed the assault accused the woman of ''making a drama'' and suggested she call the police if she wished to pursue it. The post accused the bar staff of taking a permissive attitude to being groped by drunk men as ''women's lot'' and part of a ''rape culture''.