Non-Consensual Intimate Image Takedown in India — India
Sourced from Indian central (Union) law — Constitution of India, central Acts of Parliament, and Supreme Court decisions. State-level information reflects each state's own Acts and High Court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
If sexually explicit images or videos of you have been shared online without consent, India has a layered takedown system. The legal hammer is criminal; the practical takedown is administrative.
- IT Act s. 66E — capturing or transmitting a person's private image without consent: up to 3 years or fine up to ₹2 lakh, or both.
- IT Act s. 67 — publishing obscene material electronically: 3 years / ₹5 lakh, repeat offence 5 years / ₹10 lakh.
- IT Act s. 67A — publishing sexually explicit content electronically: 5 years / ₹10 lakh, repeat 7 years / ₹10 lakh.
- BNS s. 79 — insulting modesty of a woman by words / gesture / object including via electronic means: 3 years + fine.
- If the affected person is under 18, the POCSO Act 2012 applies — substantially heavier penalties and mandatory reporting.
For takedown, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 require intermediaries to remove NCII within 24 hours of a complaint by the victim or someone on their behalf. The Sahyog portal (sahyog.mha.gov.in) is the unified MHA portal for sending takedown intimations under IT Act s. 79(3)(b) and the 2021 Rules.
International tools also work in India: StopNCII.org (StopNCII operated by SWGfL — adults 18+, generates a perceptual hash of the image and sends it to partner platforms for matching and removal) and Take It Down by NCMEC (for those under 18 at the time of capture).
When does it apply?
Applies if intimate or sexually explicit images or videos of you:
- Were captured without your consent or shared after consent was withdrawn.
- Have appeared on a social network, messaging app, adult site, or have been distributed by an ex / acquaintance.
- Concern a minor (any explicit image of someone under 18 is CSAM — distinct, heavier regime).
- Are AI-generated deepfakes — covered by the same IT Act provisions and emerging deepfake-specific advisories.
What to Do If Intimate Images Have Been Shared Without Your Consent
The fastest result comes from running the criminal and administrative tracks together.
- File at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 — the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal handles "Crime against Women / Children > Online Sexual Abuse" complaints anonymously.
- Send a direct takedown request to the platform — every major platform has a dedicated "non-consensual intimate imagery" pathway. Cite the 24-hour window under Rule 3(2)(b) of the IT Rules 2021.
- Use StopNCII.org if you are 18 or older — it hashes the content locally and partner platforms (Meta, TikTok, Bumble, Reddit, OnlyFans, and others) automatically block uploads of matching hashes.
- Use Take It Down by NCMEC (takeitdown.ncmec.org) if you were under 18 when the image was taken.
- For Sahyog-routed escalation, the local cyber police station or the State CID can issue a formal s. 79(3)(b) intimation through Sahyog.
- File an FIR with the cyber police station — even where the offender is anonymous, the IP and platform data trail can be pursued.
- Preserve the URL and screenshots before sending the takedown request.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not pay anyone who claims to have hacker access to remove the content. They are running a follow-on extortion.
- Do not respond to the original perpetrator's demands. Document, then report.
- Do not delete your account or block immediately on the platform where the content appears — preserve URLs and screenshots first so the takedown request and the FIR have evidence.
- Do not share the original content with friends, family, or even your lawyer outside encrypted secure channels.
- For under-18 cases, do not send the image anywhere except NCMEC's Take It Down. StopNCII is for adults; under-18 cases run on a heavier protective regime.
About Data Privacy & Digital Rights in India
India's data-protection regime entered force in phases starting 13 November 2025, when the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA). The Data Protection Board of India (DPB) is now operational; the Consent Manager Framework goes live 13 November 2026; full operational compliance — notice, consent, breach reporting, rights handling — by 13 May 2027. Until then, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the SPDI Rules 2011 continue to govern cybercrime and remain the active route for offences against personal data. CERT-In directions (28 April 2022) require incident reporting within 6 hours for specified categories of cyber-incident. Sahyog portal (sahyog.mha.gov.in) is the unified portal for content takedown intimations under IT Act s. 79(3)(b) and rule-based blocking. For NCII (non-consensual intimate imagery), the IT Act s. 67/67A, BNS s. 79, and POCSO Act (for minors) apply.
Common Questions
What is the non-consensual intimate image takedown in india right in India?
If sexually explicit images or videos of you have been shared online without consent, India has a layered takedown system. The legal hammer is criminal; the practical takedown is administrative.IT Act s. 66E — capturing or transmitting a person's private image without consent: up to 3 years or fine up to ₹2 lakh, or both.IT Act s. 67 — publishing obscene material electronically: 3 years / ₹5 lakh, repeat offence 5 years / ₹10 lakh.IT Act s. 67A — publishing sexually explicit content electronically: 5 years / ₹10 lakh, repeat 7 years / ₹10 lakh.BNS s. 79 — insulting modesty of a woman by words...
When does non-consensual intimate image takedown in india apply?
Applies if intimate or sexually explicit images or videos of you:Were captured without your consent or shared after consent was withdrawn.Have appeared on a social network, messaging app, adult site, or have been distributed by an ex / acquaintance.Concern a minor (any explicit image of someone under 18 is CSAM — distinct, heavier regime).Are AI-generated deepfakes — covered by the same IT Act provisions and emerging deepfake-specific advisories.
How do I get a non-consensual intimate image of me removed from a website in India?
The fastest result comes from running the criminal and administrative tracks together.File at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 — the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal handles "Crime against Women / Children > Online Sexual Abuse" complaints anonymously.Send a direct takedown request to the platform — every major platform has a dedicated "non-consensual intimate imagery" pathway. Cite the 24-hour window under Rule 3(2)(b) of the IT Rules 2021.Use StopNCII.org if you are 18 or older — it hashes the content locally and partner platforms (Meta, TikTok, Bumble, Reddit, OnlyF...
What mistakes should I avoid with non-consensual intimate image takedown in india?
Do not pay anyone who claims to have hacker access to remove the content. They are running a follow-on extortion.Do not respond to the original perpetrator's demands. Document, then report.Do not delete your account or block immediately on the platform where the content appears — preserve URLs and screenshots first so the takedown request and the FIR have evidence.Do not share the original content with friends, family, or even your lawyer outside encrypted secure channels.For under-18 cases, do not send the image anywhere except NCMEC's Take It Down. StopNCII is for adults; under-18 cases run...