Protect Yourself from Morphing: Safeguard Your Digital Identity

Morphing involves altering or changing a person's pictures using online tools, often targeting young girls and women. Online criminals misuse these images, turning them into fake profiles, pornographic content, sexting, and blackmail material. Understanding morphing and how to protect yourself is crucial in today's digital age.

Why Should We Be Concerned?

Morphing can severely damage your online reputation and cause emotional trauma. Victims may face threats and blackmail, leading to significant distress and potential social stigma.

How Can We Safeguard Ourselves?

To protect against morphing, follow these essential measures:

• Enable Security Features: Use the privacy settings on your social media accounts to restrict who can see your posts and pictures.
• Avoid Sharing Personal Pictures Publicly: Refrain from posting personal photos online where they are easily accessible.
• Use Watermarks: Add watermarks to your pictures before sharing them online to deter misuse.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Secure your social media accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Save Evidence: If you become a victim, save screenshots and any other evidence for reference.
• Seek Support: Don't suffer in silence. Reach out to trusted family and friends for help.
• Report to Social Media: If you find a fake profile or objectionable content, report it to the social media platform’s help center.

Action to Take If Affected

If you fall victim to morphing, follow these steps:

1. Register a Complaint: Visit your nearest cyber crime police station or file an online complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
2. Report to Social Media: Notify the social media platform about the issue through their help center.
3. Understand Your Legal Rights: Familiarize yourself with the relevant laws to know your rights and the protections available to you.

Legal Protections Against Morphing

Several sections under various laws in India provide protection and recourse for morphing incidents:

• The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 (amended in 2008)

  • Section 66E: Punishes violation of privacy with imprisonment up to three years, a fine up to two lakh rupees, or both.
  • Section 67: Penalizes publishing or transmitting obscene material with imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to five lakh rupees.
  • Section 67A: Penalizes publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material with imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to ten lakh rupees.
  • Section 67B: Covers the depiction of children in sexually explicit acts with imprisonment up to five years and a fine up to ten lakh rupees.

• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012

  • Section 14 and 15: Punishes the use of children for pornographic purposes and storage of such material with imprisonment up to five years and a fine.

• Indian Penal Code (IPC)

  • Section 354D: Punishes stalking, including monitoring online activity, with imprisonment up to three years and a fine.
  • Sections 463, 465, and 471: Punish forgery and using forged documents with imprisonment up to two years or a fine, or both.
  • Section 509: Punishes acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman with imprisonment up to one year or a fine, or both.
  • Sections 499 and 500: Punish defamation with imprisonment up to two years or a fine, or both.