Protect Yourself from Revenge Pornography: Safeguard Your Digital Dignity

Revenge pornography refers to the non-consensual circulation of private, sexually explicit images and videos online. These intimate recordings, often made by an ex-partner, are used to intimidate, humiliate, blackmail, coerce, or punish the victim publicly.

Why Should We Be Concerned?

Revenge porn can devastate your social image and reputation. Victims face humiliating and degrading remarks, merciless trolling, and severe emotional, mental, and psychological trauma. The impact can scar individuals for life, making awareness and prevention crucial.

Warning Signs

• Receiving indecent remarks or comments from members of online groups.
• Indecent comments from friends and colleagues.
• Having a failed relationship or affair in the past.
• Threats from an ex-partner for sexual or monetary favors.

How to Safeguard Against Revenge Pornography

Understanding the potential dangers and taking proactive steps is vital for protection. Here are some helpful tips:

• Set Limits: Define clear boundaries in your online and offline relationships. Avoid oversharing.
• Digital Footprint: Remember that anything shared online can be permanent and misused later.
• Be Cautious: Be extremely careful when sharing or recording intimate pictures or videos. Relationships can turn sour.
• Say No to Pressure: Do not maintain relationships with individuals who pressurize you to share personal intimate content.
• Respect Privacy: Never forward or share sexual pictures or videos; this is a violation of trust and can be a serious crime.

Actions to Take if Affected by Revenge Pornography

If you find yourself a victim of revenge pornography, take the following steps:

1. Report Online: Register a complaint anonymously at cybercrime.gov.in.
2. Visit the Police: File a complaint at your nearest cybercrime police station.
3. Legal Provisions: Familiarize yourself with the relevant laws to understand your rights and the protections available.

Legal Recourse

Various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act, 2000 (amended in 2008), address the nuances of revenge porn:

• Indian Penal Code (IPC)

  • Section 292: Punishes the distribution or circulation of obscene material.
  • Section 354C: Addresses capturing or disseminating images of a woman engaged in a private act without her consent.
  • Section 499: Covers acts intending to harm an individual’s reputation or character.
  • Section 509: Penalizes acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.

• Information Technology Act, 2000

  • Section 66E: Addresses the violation of privacy.
  • Section 67: Covers publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
  • Section 67A: Punishes publishing electronic material containing sexually explicit acts.
  • Section 72: Addresses breaches of confidentiality and privacy.

• Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 (IRWA)

  • Section 4 and 6: Prevents publishing photographs containing indecent representation of women.

Additional provisions from various statutes may also apply based on the specifics of each case.