Can someone be punished for sharing my private photos without consent?

Yes, sharing someone's private photographs without consent is a serious criminal offence in India, particularly when the images are private or intimate. The law provides strong protection for privacy and dignity, with significant penalties for offenders.

Key points

• Capturing, publishing, or transmitting private images without consent is punishable.
• Sharing intimate or obscene images without consent attracts serious penalties.
• You can demand removal of the content from the platform on an urgent basis.
• Preserve evidence carefully, but avoid further circulating the images.
• Special protections and confidentiality apply, especially where the victim is a woman.

Relevant law

Violation of privacy is covered under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material under Sections 67 and 67A. Relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 on outraging modesty and criminal intimidation may also apply.

What you can do

• Report the content to the platform for urgent takedown.
• File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930.
• Register an FIR at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Rajkot.
• Consult a cyber law advocate in Rajkot to pursue removal and prosecution.