On Tuesday, the Madras High Court directed MeitY to submit an affidavit detailing steps to combat the online spread of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) and to establish a victim-friendly takedown protocol. The order was issued while hearing a plea from a woman-advocate whose private videos—allegedly recorded without her consent by a former partner—were circulating on more than 70 websites and social media platforms.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh acknowledged the increasing threat posed by such digital crimes and emphasized the need for a structured mechanism to protect victims from further trauma. The case, titled X vs Union of India, was deemed critical enough to potentially serve as a model for future cases involving NCII.
“Show Them the Way”: A Plea for Dignity and Safety
The Court highlighted the social stigma that often prevents women from reporting such crimes. “Not all girls are going to give complaint to the police and many are going to silently suffer,” Justice Venkatesh observed. He stressed the need for an anonymous, easy-to-access process that allows victims to act without risking further exposure or shame.
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The petitioner, who filed the complaint after being repeatedly harassed, said the content had been created during a relationship based on false promises of marriage. Despite lodging an FIR, the videos continued to resurface, leading to severe reputational and emotional harm.
Technology and Accountability
In her petition, the woman requested that MeitY deploy advanced technologies like hash-matching, AI-based detection, and PhotoDNA to track and remove the offending content. The Court responded by directing MeitY to take immediate action and complete takedown procedures within 48 hours.
MeitY informed the Court that it had already instructed intermediaries such as Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Telegram to block the content. The Department of Telecommunications also directed internet service providers to restrict access to the identified sites. Still, fresh repostings were found on 39 additional websites, prompting the judge to insist on more proactive and tech-driven interventions.
A Blueprint for Future Protection
Calling the case a potential blueprint for future NCII-related complaints, the Court said if MeitY can successfully prevent the further spread of the content, the protocol could become a national standard. The Court also reprimanded the Tamil Nadu Police for the insensitive handling of the FIR, where male officers viewed the explicit material in front of the victim.
“To avoid further harassment, only female officers should assist the victim in such cases,” the Court said, directing that the victim’s name be redacted from all legal documents. MeitY has been asked to submit a comprehensive affidavit before the next hearing on July 22, detailing a step-by-step process for victims, including options for anonymous reporting, NGO support, and rapid content takedown.
