Once in a while, news pops up about certain celebrities being hacked and their most intimate pictures leaked. If you think it’s a one of a kind thing that only happens with famous people, think again. The ongoing video row unravelling in Chandigarh now is just one of the many examples to support this argument. Objectionable videos of several girl students of Chandigarh University in Mohali, Punjab are believed to have been leaked by a hosteller. A woman student has been arrested in connection with the case from Punjab, while her alleged boyfriend has been nabbed by the police from Himachal Pradesh. Another accused is also in police custody.
We are all living in a completely digital world. Increased use of the internet is giving rise to cybercrime such as cyberbullying, ransom attacks, illegal pornography, sextortion. Today, sextortion and blackmailing comes in the list of ‘top cyber-crime on the Internet’. Blackmailing is a violation of your rights and someone who engages in this type of behaviour is manipulative, dishonest, and dangerous. Someone who is blackmailing you is committing A CRIMINAL ACT. It is against the law to share an intimate image of someone without their consent or to threaten to share an intimate image of someone. This includes sharing: – Physically (such as showing people images contained on your camera, phone, tablet or computer) – Electronically (online, email, social media, text message)
Provisions Related To Blackmailing Under The Indian Penal Code, 1860 If someone is threatening to share intimate pictures of you then it’s a form of criminal intimidation, which is defined under Section 503 of the Indian Penal Code. Criminal intimidation can result in a sentence of either type of jail, which can last up to two years or a fine, or a combination of the two. If they’re demanding money in exchange for not making pictures public then this is Extortion under Section 384. Extortion is punishable by imprisonment of any kind, up to three years, a fine, or both. The penalty is three years under this provision, and the offence is non-bailable and triable in any Magistrate.
1. Information Technology Act, 2000 also covers certain sexual offences dealing with cybercrime. 2. Section 66E of the IT Act, 2000 – Violation of Privacy—prohibits capturing or disseminating photos of a person without their agreement. 3. Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000 – Transmitting obscene electronic material, sharing images or videos to defame someone is punishable. 4. Section 67B of the IT Act, 2000 – Child pornography applies if the victim is a minor, below 18 years of age.
1. One thing to always keep in mind is to keep a record of their communication. 2. Write down as much information as you can about the threat or multiple threats. 3. If they have threatened you over text, make sure to take screenshots as evidence. 4. Do not delete the messages/call recordings. 5. These messages and recordings are important sources of evidence. By deleting these messages, you are destroying evidence. 6. In any case, do not give in to the blackmailer’s demand. Always remember, It’s not your fault. Be bold! The law will back you up.
If someone shares an intimate picture of you online without your consent, you can report it to the online service it was posted on. For example, you can use the “report” button on Facebook photos and videos. Take Legal Action Threatening someone is a form of harassment, which is a crime. You can report it to the nearest cyber cell, and they will guide you through the process. According to the IT Act, a cybercrime comes under the purview of global jurisdiction. This means that a cybercrime complaint can be registered with any of the cyber cells in India, irrespective of the place where it was originally committed.
Following are the places you can file a cybercrime complaint in India through an online portal: 1. National Commission For Women The is a non-profit organisation that assists victims of internet abuse in dealing with law enforcement. 2. Reporting On Social Media Websites Reporting on social media websites is an option if the above options are difficult to do for whatever reason. Most of these websites have the option of reporting the crime since they are required by the IT regulations of 2011 to take action within 36 hours of receiving the information to prevent the spread of objectionable materials.