Revenge pornography — the non-consensual sharing of intimate or sexually explicit images — is a criminal offence in India punishable with up to 3-7 years imprisonment. Under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000, capturing, publishing, or transmitting images of a person's private areas without consent carries up to 3 years imprisonment and a Rs 2 lakh fine. Under Section 77 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), voyeurism — including disseminating such images — is punishable with up to 3 years for a first offence and up to 7 years for a repeat offence. Report immediately to cybercrime.gov.in, call 1930, and file an FIR.
Why this matters
Revenge pornography is one of the most devastating forms of digital abuse. It typically involves an intimate partner or ex-partner sharing private images without consent, often after a relationship breakdown, as an act of revenge, control, or extortion. The damage is profound — psychological trauma, social stigma, damage to professional reputation, and in some cases, victims have been driven to self-harm. India does not have a single dedicated revenge porn law, but multiple existing provisions create a strong legal framework. Victims have the right to get content removed, perpetrators prosecuted, and platforms held accountable.
Your rights
1. This is a criminal offence — not just a personal matter
Many victims are told this is a "private matter" or that they should have been more careful. This is wrong. The law is clear:
- Section 66E, IT Act: Publishing or transmitting images of a private area without consent — up to 3 years + Rs 2 lakh fine
- Section 67, IT Act: Publishing obscene material in electronic form — up to 5 years + Rs 10 lakh fine (first offence)
- Section 67A, IT Act: Publishing sexually explicit material in electronic form — up to 5 years + Rs 10 lakh fine (first offence)
- Section 77, BNS (Voyeurism): Disseminating images of a person in a private act without consent — up to 3 years (first offence), up to 7 years (repeat offence)
- Section 351, BNS (Criminal Intimidation): If the perpetrator threatens to share images unless demands are met — up to 2-7 years
In practice: Consent to capture an image is NOT consent to publish or share it. Courts have clearly distinguished between the two. Even if the images were taken with consent during a relationship, sharing them without consent afterwards is a criminal offence.
Important: The landmark case State of West Bengal v. Animesh Boxi (2018) resulted in a conviction under Section 66E of the IT Act with 5 years imprisonment — establishing that courts take these cases seriously.
2. Right to immediate content removal
Under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, social media platforms must:
- Acknowledge complaints within 24 hours
- Remove content relating to sexual abuse, intimate images, or morphed images within 24 hours of receiving a complaint (Rule 3(2)(b))
- Appoint a Grievance Officer accessible for complaints
In practice: Report the content to the platform immediately. For sexually explicit content, platforms have an expedited removal process — typically faster than the standard 24-36 hour timeline.
3. Right to anonymity in legal proceedings
Victims of sexual offences, including revenge pornography, have the right to have their identity protected during legal proceedings. Courts can order that the victim's name and identifying details not be published.
Step-by-step: What to do
Step 1: Preserve evidence (but do not share it further)
Screenshot the content, the URL, the poster's profile, and any accompanying messages or threats. Save everything — but do NOT share the images with anyone else, even to "show evidence." Forward screenshots of the post (without the explicit content visible) to yourself by email for a timestamped record.
In practice: If the content appears on a website, use web archiving services to preserve the page. Content can be deleted by the perpetrator at any time, so act quickly.
Step 2: Report to the platform for immediate removal
Contact the platform's reporting mechanism:
- Facebook/Instagram: Report the content as "Nudity and Sexual Activity" > "Non-consensual intimate images"
- X (Twitter): Report > Abusive or harmful > Includes private information > Intimate photos
- WhatsApp: Report the contact and block
- Google (for search results): Submit a removal request through Google's content removal tool
- Pornography websites: Most have DMCA/content removal request forms; also report to cybercrime.gov.in
Step 3: Call the cybercrime helpline — 1930
Call immediately. The helpline can expedite the removal process and begin tracking the perpetrator. For women, also contact the National Commission for Women helpline at 7827-170-170.
Step 4: File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in
Visit cybercrime.gov.in and file under "Women/Child Related Crime" > "Non-Consensual Intimate Images." Upload evidence (screenshots showing the content was shared, not the explicit content itself, plus the perpetrator's details).
Step 5: File an FIR at the police station
File an FIR under the following sections:
- Section 66E, IT Act (privacy violation — capturing/publishing private images)
- Section 67/67A, IT Act (obscene/sexually explicit material)
- Section 77, BNS (voyeurism)
- Section 351, BNS (criminal intimidation, if threats were involved)
- Section 78, BNS (stalking, if part of a pattern of harassment)
In practice: You have the right to have a woman police officer record your statement. The police station must register your FIR — these are cognizable offences. If they refuse, approach the Superintendent of Police or the Judicial Magistrate.
Step 6: Seek a court injunction
If the content is not removed quickly enough, file an urgent application in the civil court seeking an injunction directing:
- The perpetrator to remove all copies of the content
- The platform to take down the content immediately
- A gag order preventing further dissemination
Courts have consistently granted interim injunctions in such cases within days.
What if things go wrong
If the perpetrator threatens to release more images
This is criminal intimidation (Section 351, BNS) and potentially extortion (Section 308, BNS — if they demand money or favours). Report both the threat and the underlying offence. The threat itself is a separate criminal offence punishable with up to 7 years.
If the images have spread to multiple platforms
Report to each platform separately and mention all platforms in your police complaint and court petition. A single court order can be served on multiple platforms. The cybercrime police have experience coordinating removal across platforms.
If you cannot identify the person who shared the images
File a complaint with the cybercrime portal. The police can trace the uploader through IP addresses, device identifiers, and platform records. Section 69 of the IT Act empowers the government to direct platforms to disclose information for investigation purposes.
If you are being blackmailed
Do NOT pay or comply with demands. Report immediately to the police — extortion (Section 308, BNS) is a serious offence punishable with up to 7 years imprisonment. The moment you pay, the blackmailer is likely to escalate demands.
Documents and resources you need
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: https://cybercrime.gov.in
- Cybercrime helpline: 1930
- National Commission for Women: 7827-170-170
- One Stop Centre (Sakhi): 181 (for women in distress — available 24/7)
- iCall Psychosocial Helpline: 9152987821 (counselling support)
- Platform reporting links: Use built-in reporting tools on each platform
- StopNCII.org: A free tool by the UK Revenge Porn Helpline that allows you to create a digital fingerprint (hash) of intimate images to prevent them from being uploaded on participating platforms
Common myths
Myth: If you took the photos yourself or consented to them being taken, you cannot complain. Reality: Consent to take a photo is NOT consent to share it. The offence is in the non-consensual publication and distribution, not in the creation of the image.
Myth: This only happens to women. Reality: Men can also be victims of revenge pornography. The same legal protections apply. However, certain BNS provisions (Section 77 — voyeurism, Section 79 — insult to modesty) are specifically worded for women victims. Section 66E of the IT Act is gender-neutral.
Myth: Once images are online, they cannot be removed. Reality: Platforms are legally required to remove such content on valid complaints. Court orders compel removal. Tools like StopNCII.org can prevent re-upload. While complete removal from every corner of the internet is challenging, significant content reduction is achievable.
Myth: Reporting will make the situation public and cause more embarrassment. Reality: Police complaints and court proceedings in sexual offence cases are confidential. Your identity is protected. Courts routinely prohibit publication of the victim's name. The legal process is designed to protect your privacy, not expose it.
The law behind this
| Offence | Provision | Max Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Publishing private area images | Section 66E, IT Act | 3 years + Rs 2 lakh fine |
| Obscene material online | Section 67, IT Act | 5 years + Rs 10 lakh fine |
| Sexually explicit material online | Section 67A, IT Act | 5 years + Rs 10 lakh fine |
| Voyeurism (dissemination) | Section 77, BNS | 3 years (first) / 7 years (repeat) |
| Criminal intimidation | Section 351, BNS | 2-7 years |
| Extortion (blackmail) | Section 308, BNS | Up to 7 years |
| Stalking | Section 78, BNS | 3 years (first) / 5 years (repeat) |
Frequently asked questions
Can I take legal action if the images were morphed (my face on someone else's body)? Yes. Morphed images created to defame or harass you are punishable under Section 66C (identity theft), Section 67 (obscene content) of the IT Act, and Section 356 (defamation) of the BNS.
What if the perpetrator is my current or former partner? The law applies regardless of the relationship. Being in a relationship — current or past — does not give anyone the right to share intimate images without consent. Domestic violence provisions under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 may also apply.
How long does it take to get content removed? Platforms typically remove non-consensual intimate images within 24-48 hours of a valid report. Court-ordered removal can be obtained within days. Police action to compel removal through official channels may take longer.
Is there a time limit for filing a complaint? There is no specific limitation period for IT Act offences. For BNS offences, criminal complaints should ideally be filed as soon as possible, though most relevant sections do not have a strict limitation period. However, prompt reporting strengthens your case and prevents further spread.